Happy New Year!

We are so excited to welcome you into our mission for 2026. STEAM Room's mission remains to be clear:

To equip the future and connect the community by building up STEAM.

Support the mission! Donate HERE

We have some exciting news to share with you for January and looking ahead to all of 2026:

 

In this issue:

• Our NEW plan for growth in 2026

• The monthly strategy to maximize impact and exposure

• A financial update with exciting news

• Hosting Partner spotlight

• Upcoming events in the coming months

​

 

NEW GROWTH PLAN COMING IN 2026

After trying many new things in 2025, we gained plenty of wisdom and experience. We needed to decide and commit towards either a growth mindset or an ingenuity focus. While we want to develop in both spheres, it is obvious that this is a time to focus more on growth and exposure. That affects a couple of things:

1. While we desire to see parents and dads engage with their kids, the focus must be placed primarily on reaching and teaching kids.

2. Our young engineers can become our greatest allies towards seeing involved parents, and in turn connected communities.

3. We can achieve this through a combination of regular classes, special series, and public outreach events.

 

 

 

OUR MONTHLY STRATEGY

Like in business investment, it is best to not "put all your eggs in one basket." We have regrouped from lessons learned and will implement a strategy based on quality over quantity:

1. We will continue our commitment to the Heart of the Valley YMCA, teaching the pre-k classes on Friday mornings across three campuses. This includes imformational blurbs to parents explaining the month's activities, at home opportunities, and invitations to external events.

2. We will offer extracurricular "after school" classes at area schools and homeschools when opportunities are presented. The combination of YMCA and extracurricular classes will be the primary source of revenue for STEAM Room.

3. We will commit to a once a month free heavily publicized community event, where we will offer stations and/or mini sessions to offer a "taste" of exploration and connection.

4. Once per quarter we will offer a "premium" weekend event such as a Parents Night Out or Family STEM Challenge.

 

 

FINANCIAL UPDATES

Some may not be aware that STEAM Room underwent a significant shift in our financial focus in 2025. We officially became an Alabama recognized nonprofit organization in the Fall and are working towards applying for Federal 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit status. We do have some financial and organizational updates:

1. We have a board of directors selected, consisting of a President (Chris Burnham), Treasurer (Brian Burnham), and Secretary (Marie Frank) and are making the necessary decisions that will impact the future of the organization.

2. Mathnasium of Madison provides In Kind donations through the occasional use of their facility free of charge.

3. Heart of the Valley YMCA provides generous support to STEAM Room based on attendance at the pre-k classes and events.

4. STEAM Room has been awarded a GRANT! We will have a representative at the awards ceremony on January 24, thanks to Madison Street Festival.

5. As an Easter Egg, reply to this email with the words "I found Gearstopper" to be entered into a drawing for a once per month prize to be issued in January.

 

 

HOSTING PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Mathnasium of Madison

Confession time: I was terrible at math in school. I wasn't interested unless you could show me practical uses for the concepts!

Mathnasium is one of the resources I wish was there when I was in school. They embrace the idea that math can be difficult but they also make sure to make it fun! Mathnasium has options and assessments available to help identify your child's strengths and weaknesses and then works with parents to develop a strategy for success.

​

When you first meet the center director, Nicolette, you will find a skilled and caring individual dedicated to the growth of all young minds who enter through those doors. Linda has been a friend and professional partner with the founder of STEAM Room for nearly a decade. Her direct approach of encouragement through expectation is refreshing to see when it comes to teaching the upcoming generation of thinkers, leaders, and workers.

Mathnasium of Madison

256-430-4053

51 Nance Rd

Suite #101

Madison, AL 35758

Nicolette Riherd, Center Directer

Linda Hussong, Owner

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

To sign up for events, visit our EVENTS PAGE

January 24  10AM-3PM  Homeschool Show and Share @ Jaycee Building, John Hunt Park in Huntsville

February 14   4PM-7PM  PARENTS NIGHT OUT: The Search for STEAM @ Mathnasium of Madison

February 21   3pm-5pm  Free Building up STEAM Community Event @ Mathnasium of Madison

February event locations being finalized and are subject to change

March 14      2PM-4PM   Free Building up STEAM Community Event @ Bailey Cove Library

​

STEAM Room

steamroomhsv.com

steamroomhsv@gmail.com

playstemcell@gmail.com

Find us on Facebook

Follow us: STEAM Room HSV

Be our Friend: Play STEM Cell HSV

Become part of the STEM Cell Family