Ecosystem Updates
Always something happening!
See below for the latest.
Mid-Town Parish UMC Annual Community Day
The Ecosystem participated in this joyful celebration of fun, food, and community in August 2026, marking the occasion of STEM and Back-to-School. A variety of school supplies, interactive activities, crafts, and food were available for everyone to enjoy.
Back-to-School Day
The Ecosystem was present at Senator Art Haywood's and Rep. Andre D. Carroll's " All Youth are All Stars" Back-to-School Celebration. on August 1st, 2026. A variety of STEM Out-of-School Time providers and city offices were highlighting their programs and had fun hands-on-activities for all to enjoy.
OIC of America STEMFest 2026
On July 30th, over 600 Philadelphia students K-2th attend and engaged in 60 different hands-on interactive STEM activities Leon Sullivan Human Services Building.
The Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem in representation of the McKinney Center for STEM Education presented a curiosity table where students and adults were encouraged to look up close and touch natural specimens.
PSSE Annual Convening
The Ecosystem joined leaders from K–12, higher education, business and industry, and community organizations for the 2026 Pennsylvania Statewide STEM Ecosystem (PSSE) Annual Convening. on June 23rd to explore how to strengthen regional STEM ecosystems through shared vision, cross-sector collaboration, and practical action. Facilitated by Billy Almon, Astrobiofuturist, this full-day experience helped participants reflect on current conditions, build common language, and identify meaningful next steps for ecosystem growth and impact.
Participants of PSSE's Statewide Convening: Architecting Ecosystems of Possibility in June 2026.
Members and friends looking at picture cards to choose from that might represent how they are feeling about work at the moment as part of a networking activity.
ALL Members Networking Meeting
A huge shoutout also goes out to all of our incredible STEM partners who joined us at Ecosystem's All-Members Networking Meeting on May 21, 2026. The event not only provided an opportunity to share updates on the McKinney Center for STEM Education's strategic direction and clarification surrounding its organizational structure, it also reinforced the power of community! The energy in the room was invigorating! It was so awesome to see familiar faces while forging new connections within this amazing community.
Remake Learning Days 2026
In 2026, for the first time, Philadelphia stood as its own Remake Learning Days region, with 181 free learning events across 37 days, led by 45 partners in 8 neighborhoods. Supported locally by the Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem, the festival invited families into libraries, parks, schools, museums, and community spaces for hands-on learning rooted in curiosity, creativity, and discovery.
Ecosystem volunteer Rika Iijima showing visitors the wonders of looking under the microscope.
Ecosystem at
Dinos after Dark
The Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem participated at the Academy of Natural Sciences "Dinos after Dark" activity on May 22, 2026. This festive event had a family-friendly atmosphere, hands-on activities and the Dino Drafts Beer Garden in Dinosaur Hall. You could meet Academy scientists and see real specimens, pick up a new read at our free book fair featuring local STEM and literacy partners like the Free Library Book Bike, then cozy up in the auditorium for lively story times with special guest author Sean Stallworth.
Ellen Schultz, Southeast Regional Lead for the PA Environmental Lit. Network, welcoming participants to the Symposium.
2026 Teaching Green Symposium
The Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem was invited to be part of the
PA Environmental Literacy Network Southeast Regional Hub and as such was invited to be part of their third Teaching Green Symposium in June 2026 at The Nature Place in Berks County Nature Center in Reading, PA. This one-day convening of formal and non-formal environmental educators from our Southeast PA region. The goal of this learning experience is for participants to connect with, and learn about the Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (EL&S) part of the PA STEELS Science Standards.
Cheltenham Career Fair
Cheltenham United Parents Group hosted a district-wide STEM Career Fair on April 18, 2026 at Cheltenham High School in Wyncote, PA. This event was designed to connect students and families with real-world STEM pathways through meaningful conversations with professionals across science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines. The Ecosystem participated demonstrating the many ways you can observe and learn about nature.​
All things STEAM Career Mapping Earth Day
We celebrated Earth Day by joining Congreso de Latinos Unidos' OST STEAM Tour Program. Students and families were encouraged to explore, do hands-on activities, and meet STEAM professionals to show how to align their passion for the planted with STEAM career pathways.
PSSE Leadership Summit
The Pennsylvania Statewide STEM Ecosystem (PSSE) January 2026 Leadership Summit was an opportunity for every PA STEM ecosystem to mobilize their leadership to participate in statewide STEM ecosystem data mapping and visioning to shape the next five years of innovation, education, and opportunity. PSSE brought together cross-sector partners from across Pennsylvania to determine a shared statewide STEM identity and clear picture of PA’s STEM landscape.