The volunteer committee are all people who live, work, & play in local communities (like Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Novato, San Rafael, and others). We rely on each others' local connections to recruit exhibitors, sponsors, and marketing. This approach has been extremely important to the event's continued success! We strive to create an inclusive environment where shared experiences and enthusiasm create a sense of community; allow parents to see the enthusiasm of their children for STEM; and facilitate a sense of regional community that connects organizations, schools, and families.

 

The volunteer committee undertakes key activities, including:

1. engaging nearly 100 exhibitors to provide hands-on science activities (exhibitors include corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, small businesses, schools, clubs, research institutions).

2. marketing the event to youth in the North Bay with an emphasis on outreach to schools, especially in Santa Rosa and Roseland, and also including radio.

3. providing internships for high school students with key exhibitors; experiences lasting 8 to 12 hours to job shadow in advance and then help with the company's exhibit during the event.

4. developing resources for youth to deepen and sustain their STEM engagement after the festival (e.g., providing exhibitor's information, resources, and calendars on our website).

Partnerships: The event thrives on partnerships to provide STEM activities, sponsorships, and marketing; key partnerships include Sonoma & Marin Offices of Education, Career Technical Foundation of Sonoma County, City of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Santa Rosa Junior College, Sonoma State University, the Buck Institute, and Cooperative Extension.

Funds: The event relies on volunteer labor, thus no personnel costs are requested. Expenses included the facility; marketing and outreach through flyers, social media, and radio; and event logistics/supplies.