Schools
ASD STEM Ambassadors Bring Boys & Girls Club on a Journey Through the Planetarium
Igniting curiosity through outreach
Nashua, NH – The Academy for Science and Design (ASD) welcomed students from the Boys and Girls Club of Nashua for an afternoon of discovery that spanned from deep space to hands-on robotics challenges. The visit showcased ASD’s new Digitalis portable indoor planetarium, a major addition to the school’s STEM outreach toolkit, and highlighted the leadership of ASD’s trained STEM Ambassadors as they guided young learners through immersive astronomy and interactive engineering activities.
The event opened inside the Digitalis Planetarium, where STEM Ambassadors Lachlan Gill and Jacob Bartle led students on a journey across the solar system, through distant galaxies, and into the broader wonders of the cosmos. The portable planetarium, designed to travel with ASD for future community programs, transforms any space into a vivid, immersive learning environment, giving students an unforgettable, up-close encounter with the stars, planets, and more.
“It’s not just about what you know, but about how you can share what you know,” said ASD Director Jenn Cava. “Through outreach like this, our ASD STEM Ambassadors grow as communicators and leaders while inspiring other young people in the community to see themselves as future scientists.
After their voyage through space, Boys and Girls Club members met STEM Ambassadors Alex Martony and Haider Iqbal, who introduced them to VEX robotics challenges, including block-stacking, putting problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity into action.
ASD’s STEM Ambassador Program is designed to prepare students to communicate scientific ideas clearly, lead demonstrations, and engage audiences with diverse levels of understanding. Through outreach events like this, Ambassadors gain real experience as science communicators and mentors, while inspiring younger learners to imagine themselves as future scientists, engineers, and innovators. As Cava explains, “it’s a win-win for all involved.”
This visit highlights ASD’s commitment to broadening access to STEM by bringing meaningful learning experiences, including its new portable planetarium, directly to the community.
ASD welcomes youth organizations and community groups to reach out about scheduling a visit or arranging for the portable planetarium to come to their location. For more information, contact Jennifer Cava at Jennifer.Cava@asdnh.org or (603) 595-4705.
