One of OMSI’s classrooms was bursting with activity on January 20 as over 25 volunteers from OMSI’s corporate partners filled the room with energy and enthusiasm as they filled STEAM kit boxes for Oregon students. OMSI’s Development team, in collaboration with corporate partners, annually observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a Day of Service to give back to students across the region.
What’s in a STEAM kit?
3 plain sheets of paper
1 color sheet of paper
1 Project Zero comic book
1 English activity book
1 Spanish activity book
2 big straws
2 small straws
1 pair of scissors
1 bundle of pipe cleaner
1 glue stick
1 tape roll
1 catapult construction kit
1 watercolor paint set
1 OMSI admission ticket
2025 partner volunteers include employees from CUI Devices, Eaton Corporation, PGE, and Microchip Technology Inc. The spirit of collaboration and shared understanding of community impact was at the heart of the mission of the day. It was clear as the room full of volunteers worked that each person had arrived ready to make an impact.
STEAM kit build days were born in response to a community need during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “OMSI and our partners understood the need for students to be provided with hands-on STEAM opportunities at a time when in-person activity was impossible.” says Jacqueline Brooks, OMSI Corporate Relations Officer. Since 2020, OMSI has been fortunate enough to have partner volunteers donate time, resources, and financial support to maintain STEAM kit build days long-term.
This year the assembled STEAM kits are making their way into the hands of students at Aloha Huber Park K-8 thanks to collaboration with Community Resource Coordinator for the Beaverton School District and supporter of OMSI, Christina Mackin. The kits will go directly into the hands of students to take home sharing the joy of STEAM learning with family.
“OMSI has proven to be an excellent partner for hosting recruiting events and engaging with our community. OMSI has a robust calendar of events that allows companies like Eaton to get their name out in the community while contributing to education in an exciting and engaging way. Our corporate partnership is also popular with our employees as it allows for easy access to OMSI’s breadth of permanent and temporary exhibits. Eaton is excited to build on the partnership established with OMSI in the coming years.”
—Jonathan Wells, Eaton Corporation Plant Manager
Get Involved!
Learn more about becoming an OMSI corporate partner—from volunteering to a corporate membership to supporting programming across the region.
