Mega Lab was truly MEGA fun as families came together for an exciting evening of hands-on learning, creativity, and discovery. The event served as a family night to kick off our 2026–2027 STEM programming with Raytheon, and it was a wonderful way to welcome Club families into the Education Center for a night of exploration.
For Karen Kravchuk, our Director of Education, the evening was especially exciting—it was the first family STEM event she had organized at the Club. Bringing families into the Education Center to learn, explore, and have fun alongside their children made the night especially meaningful.
In total, 37 Club kids representing 25 Club families attended, joined by moms, dads, grandmothers, baby brothers, sisters, and more. What made the evening especially meaningful was the incredible family participation—every child had at least one family member with them, and many had two to four loved ones by their side.
Before diving into the activities, families enjoyed pizza and salad together. Then, after receiving their activity cards, they rotated through six engaging STEM stations, earning stickers as they completed each one.
Each activity gave families a chance to explore a different STEM concept in a fun and interactive way. At the pH Testing station, participants learned about acids and bases and discovered how a red cabbage indicator changes color depending on pH. At Build and Race Cars, families designed and tested cars while thinking about how weight, friction, and drag impact speed. At the Magnus Effect Glider station, children explored how spinning objects move through the air and why balls can curve in sports like baseball and soccer.
Other activities encouraged both creativity and curiosity. In Pumpkin Surprise, families learned about pneumatic and hydraulic systems and how air and fluid can transfer motion. At Thaumatrope and Flip Book, kids created their own visual illusions and discovered how early animation worked long before movies and television. Finally, the Magnification Station invited participants to take a closer look at everyday items and explore the world of microscopes and magnifiers.
The event was made possible by an amazing group of supporters, including six Raytheon volunteers led by Meredith Monaco (the creator of Girl Lab!), with help from her mom Beth Monaco, Amy Hagnauer from Girl Lab!, our own Christianne (“Miss K”), STEM Coordinator, and six volunteers from a Northeastern nursing program.
A big shoutout goes to our incredible Club families for showing up with such enthusiasm and making the night such a success.
We are so grateful to everyone who helped make Mega Lab possible, and we can’t wait for more STEM fun throughout the year.
