ROCK ISLAND, Ill — Area teens can roll up their sleeves and focus on opportunities for the future.
Non-profit STEAM On Wheels is holding a free program for teens age 12 to 17 on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 5 p.m. to 7p.m. at the Rock Island Library Watts-Midtown Branch. Teens in attendance will get to work with a hands-on laser cutter and virtual reality projects.
STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, art, and math. News 8's Charles Hart spoke with Rock Island Public Library's Youth Services Director Susan Foster, who said it's important kids learn these skills early.
"Technology is just changing so quickly, and it's out there," Foster said. "And so they need to be exposed to what the new technologies are, they need to see these tools, they're going to need it for their future careers, we all deal with steam in some way or another."
"They know steam is out there, they know what it is," Foster said. "But, they don't always understand how it becomes a career. So we're trying to kind of fill that niche or that gap and just get them to kind of think about, hey, these are steam careers."
This event is being funded by the Project Next Generation Illinois State Library grant. Foster said she's estimating STEAM On Wheels is getting around $500 to pay someone to come out and teach the teens laser cutting and VR.
It is a free event, however, families do have to register for it. You can register for the program by clicking/tapping here.
There is another one of these sessions scheduled for Saturday, January 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Rock Island Library Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road.
Watch more news, weather and sports on our YouTube channel