courtesy of Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan
Rolling lab delivers hands-on science and technology education to K-5 students, with a mission to close opportunity gaps for young Black girls.
A brightly decorated mobile classroom rolled into Mackenzie Elementary/Middle School on Tuesday morning, marking a bold new chapter for the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan (GSSEM). The organization officially launched its Mobile STEAM Lab, an initiative aimed at inspiring future innovators, especially among underserved communities in the Detroit area.
Inside the lab, students programmed robots, explored engineering concepts through paddle boat design, and conducted chemistry experiments. The Mobile STEAM Lab, funded by General Motors, Comcast, and the Vilcek Foundation, is a traveling classroom designed to engage students in grades K-5 in immersive learning experiences across science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM).
courtesy of Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan
During the unveiling, Monica Woodson, CEO of GSSEM, highlighted that today marks a pivotal moment in the Girl Scout mission to inspire the next generation of innovators.
“With the launch of our Mobile STEAM Lab, we’re breaking down barriers and bringing hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math learning directly to students in Metro Detroit who need it most., Woodson said.
“This isn’t just a truck, it’s a catalyst for curiosity, a classroom on wheels, and a promise that every child deserves the chance to discover their potential.”
The mobile lab arrives at a time when disparities in STEM education continue to impact students in underserved communities, especially Black girls in Detroit.
According to the National Science Foundation, Black women make up only about 2% of the U.S. science and engineering workforce. Early exposure to STEM fields is often a key factor in addressing that gap.
To understand the educational landscape, GSSEM partnered with Data Driven Detroit (D3) to conduct a study examining access to STEM education across the region. The findings revealed significant disparities in resources, curriculum availability, and extracurricular opportunities for students in low-income communities, disparities that disproportionately affect Black students, particularly girls.
By taking education directly to the students who need it most, GSSEM’s Mobile STEAM Lab is working to change that narrative.
For GSSEM, this effort is about more than just technology it’s about identity, representation, and empowerment. The lab was intentionally designed to create an inclusive space where all children, especially girls of color, can see themselves as future engineers, chemists, coders, and designers.
The lab’s curriculum, developed by The Lab Drawer, focuses on project-based learning that encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Whether students are building a video game or exploring chemical reactions, the goal is the same: to spark curiosity and build confidence.
Since mid-April, GSSEM has quietly piloted the Mobile STEAM Lab in schools across southeastern Michigan. These early visits have provided a glimpse into the potential long-term impact of the initiative.
At Beech Elementary School in Redford, students were among the first to test the lab’s activities.
Melissa Nickel, principal at Beech Elementary, emphasized that engaging young learners in STEAM-based activities is essential to building the curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills they’ll carry into the future.
“The Mobile STEAM Lab brought key subjects to life in a way that was both exciting and meaningful for our students,” Nickel said.
“Hands-on experiences like these spark a love of learning early on, and I encourage other districts to take advantage of this incredible resource. We’re deeply grateful to Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan for their commitment to inspiring the next generation of thinkers and innovators.”
For many students, it was their first time using coding software or controlling a robot. For others, it marked a turning point in how they saw themselves.
Experts in the field would agree that early exposure to STEAM fields is crucial to building a future workforce that reflects the diversity of the community. In a region like Metro Detroit, where the automotive and tech industries are core to the economy, investing in science and technology education for local youth is not just about equity but also about economic sustainability.
The pilot phase of the program will continue through early June, as GSSEM gathers feedback from students, teachers, and families to refine the curriculum and structure. Long-term, the organization hopes to expand the lab’s reach and impact, bringing STEAM learning to more schools and community centers across the region.
At its core, the Mobile STEAM Lab is about possibility. It’s about meeting students where they are, both literally and figuratively, and showing them that their ideas, questions, and dreams belong in the world of science and technology.
“Together, we’re fueling dreams and building a brighter future, one lesson at a time,” Woodson said.
For more information on the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan and the Mobile STEAM Lab, visit www.gssem.org.