Middle School

• Aerial Drone Competition - The Aerial Drone Competition offers an exciting educational drone sporting event that focuses on hands-on, student-centered learning. Teams learn about drones, flight principles, programming, documentation and communication skills while expanding their understanding and building interest for Drone-related workforce and career opportunities. Grants are available through DoDSTEM.
• Bio-Coding Club - The Office for STEM Engagement and Inclusion at the Broad Institute created the Bio-Coding Club as an after-school program to teach students in grades 6-8 about both biology and computer coding. The Bio-Coding Club curriculum combines engaging hands-on activities with coding challenges using the Scratch programming language. Educators are provided with all the tools needed to run successful student-driven coding projects related to biology, and to boost student interest in STEM by making science fun. Modules cover topics related to DNA, Neuroscience, Infectious Disease, Human Microbiome, and Evolution.
• The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC) - The world’s largest rocket contest with nearly 5,000 students nationwide competing each year.  The contest gives middle and high school students the opportunity to design, build, and launch model rockets with hands-on experience solving engineering problems. 
• DoD STEM Opportunities - Build robots, solve real world problems, and work at the cutting edge of technology.  DoD STEM has opportunities for students of all ages.  Check out these STEM programs, internships, scholarships, and more by clicking on your state!
• ExploraVision Science Fair & STEM Competition -The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition has challenges for K–12 students to employ problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork to imagine a future technology. You will find everything you need to implement ExploraVision in your classroom including sample projects, lesson plans, classroom tips, and other resources.  Deadline: February 3, 2026
• eCybermission - Phenomenon-based STEM Competition free for 6-9 graders.  Students form teams of 2-4 and work together to identify a community problem and use scientific inquiry or engineering design to propose a solution to the problem.  Registration August 15 - February 26, 2025.  
• FAA - Airport Design Challenge - The FAA Airport Design Challenge is an annual virtual competition for K–12 students to learn about airport design and aviation careers by building realistic airports in Minecraft, guided by FAA experts and structured STEM lessons.
• FIRST Robotics - Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. 
• Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) - Perform original research, present findings, and compete for scholarships, aid, and opportunities. JSHS exposes students to diversity of thought, and promotes learning that can be applied to regular studies and real life.
• NASAO International Aviation Art Contest - This international contest encourages young people to demonstrate the importance of aviation through their art and motivates them to become more familiar with and participate in aeronautics, engineering, and science.
• Real World Design Challenge
• STEM BONDS 5811 Robotics Team (Local Dayton Area)

BONDS Robotics is a Dayton community team for students in 7th through 12th grade. The team competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition, building a robot for competition each year. Run like a small business, the BONDS team has something for everyone, with students having the opportunity to focus on build, programming, electrical, business, marketing, fundraising, and outreach. Our goal is to bring STEM opportunities to Dayton students, both by engaging in outreach events and by providing valuable skills to team members. 

• VEX Robotics World Champions 

Prepares students to become future innovators with a Robot Skills Challenge online challenges using CAD, animation, essays, and more.