KeY Programs of LASTEM Region 7 & NLASTEAM Alliance
"Bars without Barriers," Re-Entry Outreach - Teaching Incarcerated Fathers How to Be STEM Role Mode
This is a training program in which returning citizens in the Caddo Correctional Center’s Re-entry program are trained to engage their own children in hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). With previous support by IMLS, Grayson Foundation, the Beaird Family Foundation, and currently by LASTEM.
Community Engagement
Our Community Partners and Hosts like Sci-Port can come to you for out-of-school time events, STEM fairs and festivals. Featured in this photo is LASTEM Outreach Associate, David Isaacs, presenting the Van de Graaff generator.
FIRST Inspires
FIRST Inspires
Sci-Port Discovery Center and LASTEM Region 7 is home to two community-based FIRST Teams: FIRST TECH Challenge and NASA-sponsored FIRST Robotics Competition.
#Summer of LASTEM and beyond
Join Our FIRST Robotics Team!
High school level NASA-sponsored FIRST Robotics Competition Community-Based Team #9708 meets at Sci-Port Discovery Center. We are still recruiting students. The competition will be held April 2-5, 2025 in Kenner, LA.
Be a Chemist! Available now!
With GSK Science in the Summer(TM), the Franklin Institute's NGSS-aligned programming puts the child (2nd-6th grade) at the center of the learning experience. Each Be a Chemist! activity highlights a real-world career through a story that invites children to play the role of a person in that career: Forensic Chemist (pictured above), Cosmetic Chemist, Materials Chemist, Medicinal Chemist, and Water Chemist. Programming is at no cost to participants. Please contact the Programs Team if you are interested in participating in the Fold-In Model. Training and supplies are included.
NASA Astrocamp - available now!
NASA Astrocamp - available now!
NASA Astrocamp is designed for middle to high school age students. It has a teacher PD Workshop and Astrocamp kits. While the flyers states that the training is July 1 and the camps are July 6-10, these sessions will be recorded. So please contact us if you would like to make different arrangements. Limited quantities of the NASA Astrocamp STEM kits are available, so please apply soon!
past events
Shreveport-Bossier Maker Faire at Bossier Parish Community College
Saturday March 28, 2026 was the first SB-Maker Faire held at Bossier Parish Community College, the host organization for the Region 7 LASTEM Center, This marks the 8th SB-Maker Faire since its inception in 2015. There was plenty of live engineering in action during the Power Racing Series, back from popular demand. The Maker Mayhem Combat Robots also made an impact as these remote-controlled robots battled inside a plexiglass arena. True to its nature, BPCC held multiple booths on CTE, Workforce, and even hands-on use of tools. Multiple businesses not only showed their products, but made creative demos like the sandbox with a scale sized tractor in it and puffs of air that Delta Utilities used to demonstrate 811 Call Before You Dig. One could even try their hands at taking apart and putting back together parts of an automatic transmission! Stakeholders from both BPCC And the North Louisiana STEAM Alliance assisted families in the Learn to Solder LED light up Makey Robot badge. Creativity abounded with painting, wire sculptures, LEGO art, glow in the dark resin sculptures, sewing, rug tufting, and flavored beverages.
NASA Aeronautics MUseum in a Box Kits
NASA Aeronautics Museum in a Box Cohort 1
In collaboration with NASA and Central Creativity, Sci-Port/LASTEM Region 7 produced 100 prototype Museum in a Box kits for Aeronautics. Kits contain 14 different activities. Cohort 1 was held with Barksdale Airforce Base homeschool groups.
NASA Aeronautics Museum in a Box Cohort 2
Cohort 2 is a convergence of two programs - using the NASA Aeronautics Museum in a Box kits at Caddo Correctional Center Re-Entry Facility for "Dads without Barriers" where incarcerated fathers teach their children STEM. Note: there were 50 high school kits and 50 middle school kits. A generous grant from Capital One supported the high school kits. Each kit contains a student guide with career information for every activity.
NASA Aeronautics Museum in a Box Cohort 3
NASA Aeronautics Museum in a Box Cohort 3
Cohort 3 was held at Northwestern State University STEM Pioneers led by Dr. Jafar Al Sharab. Student is testing one of the activities in the book. Stay tuned for a video from Cohort 4, held at Stockwell Elementary led by LEAD STEM member, Ida Smith!