Kids Ahead - The coolest science, technology, engineering, and math stuff for kids like you!
Our Mission
The Kids Ahead program is an initiative to increase the number of kids with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competencies and interests. Our program is designed to inspire young people to learn about STEM through innovative interactions in the physical and virtual worlds.
The Kids Ahead program is part of a larger national initiative being led by Southern Methodist University aiming to improve STEM skills in young people. By providing middle school children access to quality content, activities, projects, events and information, Kids Ahead will spark their interest and passion. Kids Ahead also seeks to provide parents, teachers, club leaders and STEM volunteers the resources they need to keep STEM activities a central part of young people’s lives.
Our Goals
Develop a virtual community in support of our mission. That community consists of people like you. We hope that you will join our community, tell others about us and contribute what you know to this effort.
Create a virtual environment where kids will be inspired, learn and have fun. Kids Ahead provides high quality projects, activities and events for middle school children.
Support parents, teachers, club leaders and other adults all across America that are able to help inspire kids through STEM activities. By providing exciting, fun, challenging quality resources that adults can use as they engage with kids, we believe that STEM-related activities will increase.
Our Impact
By creating a unique virtual environment and a supporting community that is focused on giving kids the experiences they need to see themselves as future scientists or engineers we will ensure our nation has the necessary technical knowledge to maintain our status as a world leader. The Kids Ahead site is an exciting environment built to provide kids access to these fun, exciting and challenging opportunities and activities.
The Kids Ahead project hopes to reach middle school children across the U.S. We believe that it is possible to provide interesting content, fun and creative activities, and access to events and projects in their local areas that will motivate kids to learn STEM skills. The Kids Ahead program will provide parents, teachers, club leaders and other adults the resources they need to be positively impact young people through parenting, teaching, mentoring and club activities associated with STEM subjects.
Program overview
The Kids Ahead website was launched in the Fall of 2010. Initially, kids, teachers, parents, mentors and club leaders will find projects and activities related to three topics: Robotics, Forensics and Wind Energy with location-specific content for the Washington, DC Dallas/Fort Worth, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Seattle, Washington areas. Eventually, we plan to have events identified throughout the entire country and across many more subjects. Kids Ahead is also working in support of organizations like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4H Club and the Boys and Girls Clubs by providing resources they can incorporate into their activities.
