It’s science night at William O. Schaefer Elementary School in Tappan, N.Y.—and this is anything but your typical school event.
“This event exceeded our expectations. We have Alka-Seltzer rockets popping off. We have balloons being blown up with chemical reactions. We have kids making lava lamps,” said Liz Brancati. “It’s super exciting.”
Liz, a mom of three and a member of the South Orangetown Community Elementary Schools PTA, helped bring this night to life—an evening of hands-on learning that drew hundreds of curious students and families. She secured a STEM + Families Science Festival grant, sponsored by Bayer Fund, making William O. Schaefer Elementary School one of 40 schools nationwide to receive funding for the event.
Amanda attended the STEM + Families Science Festival with her third-grade son, who loves getting his hands dirty with messy science experiments—making the event a perfect fit for both of them.
“It ignites their love of science,” said Amanda. “They can do the experiments again and it encourages learning at home.”
For the past 10 years, National PTA has been bringing hands-on science, technology, engineering and math experiences to students and families in school communities across the nation through the association’s STEM + Families initiative. Thanks to the generous support of funders like the Bayer Fund, thousands of families have participated in grant-supported STEM + Families events.
“Bayer is a company based in science, so we know how important it is to get kids excited about science so they think about a career or about going to school and studying science,” said Susan Anderson, Director of Philanthropy and Community Impact at Bayer. “Plus, science is fun!”
National PTA’s STEM + Families Science Festival program gives students and families the chance to explore, create and discover together through hands-on learning and fun. These events are made possible by incredible teachers, staff and PTA volunteers who work together to create an engaging and memorable experience that brings entire school communities together.
“We were thrilled to receive the STEM+ Families Science Festival grant and couldn’t wait to use the funds to enhance our schools’ current science enrichment night,” said Laura Schaub, South Orangetown Community Elementary Schools PTA president. “It was great to watch the families working together and having fun with science.”
National PTA is thrilled to mark 10 years of STEM + Families, and our association remains committed to ensuring all students have the family and community support needed to access and pursue STEM opportunities and careers.
As the Founding and Presenting Sponsor of STEM + Families, Bayer Fund continues to help bring hands-on STEM learning to school communities across the country. National PTA is proud to continue this collaboration during the 2026–2027 school year, with even more exciting grant opportunities ahead.
