See STEM come to life in Alabama Classrooms with McWane

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STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering + Mathematics). We hear about it all the time, from ads popping up in our social feeds to our kids’ homework assignments. But how can students better understand it and use it in the real world?

One place to start: McWane Science Center in Birmingham.

And if a trip to downtown Birmingham isn’t in the cards, McWane can bring the science to you.

Here’s how McWane on the Move and field trips help Alabama students take STEM learning beyond the classroom.

How McWane brings STEM learning to Alabama classrooms

_{McWane On the Move offers hands-on STEM programs that feature everything from animals to robotics. (Ben Johnson / Bham Now)}

Recently, our team got a behind-the-scenes look at McWane on the Move during a visit to a fourth-grade classroom in Oneonta. The mobile educational program brings McWane’s hands-on STEM learning directly to schools across all 67 Alabama counties.

When teachers sign up, one of McWane’s science-loving educators packs up the mobile classroom and hits the road to bring materials and specialized equipment directly to schools so students can learn by doing, right in their own classrooms. These programs are tailored to students’ grade levels, classroom needs and current lessons.

And schools aren’t the only ones who can bring McWane on the Move to their communities. The experience is also available to groups, libraries and other organizations looking to bring hands-on STEM learning to their audiences.

What a McWane on the Move visit looks like

In Oneonta, students took part in the Amazing Animals program, which featured a few of McWane’s coolest creatures.

Instead of just reading about animals, students had the chance to observe them up close, ask questions and connect the lesson to what they were seeing.

“Hands-on STEM experiences give students the chance to move from knowing about science to doing science.

We’re moving them along a pathway from sparking interest to building identity to fostering participation in STEM.”

Abby Gwinn, Director of STEM Education, McWane Science Center

It was a great example of how McWane on the Move turns a regular school day into a hands-on STEM learning opportunity.

Go inside the classroom with us in the video below.

Amazing Animals is just one of McWane on the Move’s educational programs. Others include:

• Enlightening Electricity
• A-MAZE-ing Robots
• Inventive Engineering
• + more!

And for schools that want to keep the learning going, a field trip to McWane Science Center offers another opportunity to explore STEM in a whole new setting.

Take STEM learning even further at McWane Science Center

_{Students get to learn everything from robotics to electricity when visiting McWane Science Center in Birmingham. (Ben Johnson / Bham Now)}

Once students have experienced hands-on STEM learning in their own classroom, they can continue exploring at McWane Science Center in downtown Birmingham.

Whether it’s a group of eager-to-learn first graders or high school seniors exploring STEM-related careers, McWane Center field trips give students in Birmingham and beyond the chance to take learning outside the classroom.

Educator-led field trips and labs offer hands-on learning covering topics like:

• Robotics
• Life science
• Engineering
• Physics
• Chemistry

Students can also explore McWane’s exhibits and educational offerings, giving them even more ways to connect what they’ve learned in the classroom to the world around them.

You can learn more about McWane field trips + how to book here.

Affordable STEM learning for Alabama schools

McWane Science Center also works to make field trips more accessible through the McWane Access Program, which provides scholarship assistance to schools.

That impact is already being felt:

• Nearly 38,000 students visited McWane on field trips in 2025.
• More than 16,500 students attended through the McWane Access Program, nearly 44% of all field-trip students.
• From January through May 2026, more than 11,000 of nearly 23,500 students participated through the program, or nearly one in two students.

Those numbers reflect a growing need for affordable STEM learning opportunities across Alabama. Field trip packages start at $14 per student, and support from donors and community partners helps McWane provide additional financial assistance through the Access Program.

A few more things to know about McWane’s educational offerings:

• They’re aligned with Alabama standards: McWane’s educational opportunities support Alabama Course of Study standards, helping students build STEM skills and prepare for classroom success + ACAP assessments.
• They have statewide reach: McWane serves students + educators in communities across Alabama.
• They are affordable: Field trip packages start at $14 per student.

How to plan a McWane STEM experience

Schools can bring McWane to their classrooms through McWane on the Move, visit McWane Science Center in downtown Birmingham for a field trip or combine both for even more hands-on STEM learning. To get started:

• Reach out to McWane Science Center: Call 205-714-8414 or email reservations@mcwane.org to begin planning.
• Share your goals: Tell the education team about your students, curriculum, and classroom goals so they can help identify the right program.
• Choose your STEM experience: Work with the education team to schedule McWane on the Move, plan a field trip or explore both options for your students.

Discover more cool things available at McWane Science Center—visit their website + follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

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