Hands-On, Minds-On: The STEAM Yard Opens to Spark Curiosity, Career Exploration

With the snip of ceremonial scissors and a spark of wide-eyed wonder, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), in partnership with Chevron, officially launched The STEAM Yard today — a one-of-a-kind hands-on learning center designed to ignite curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, artists, and innovators.

Part makerspace, part lab, and part imagination-fueled playground, The STEAM Yard lets students fly drones, program robots, build with Legos, design in 3D, experiment with electricity, explore virtual reality, get their hands dirty in gardening beds, and so much more. It’s a place built for kids — but at today’s open house celebration, it was the adults who were left in awe.

“There’s one word that came to mind when I toured the space this morning: Wow,” said Alan Pitts, vice president of Chevron’s San Joaquin Valley Business Unit. “What you’ve built here made me want to be a kid again.”

Inner child moments were on full display as educators, community members, and local leaders gathered at 2020 K Street, for a celebration that marked the culmination of months of planning. Cole Sampson, KCSOS’s chief curriculum and instruction officer, says the new space was born out of necessity to meet the needs of our community. He explained that Kern County is a growing economy in STEAM jobs and some lucrative positions go unfilled.

“We know there was something we needed to do to help engage our youth so they can get more experiences and have a desire to go into those fields and fill some of those STEAM vacancies we have in our community,” he said.  

Community members came out to celebrate the opening of The STEAM Yard on April 2.

In a show of strong community support, Chevron presented a generous $200,000 donation during the ceremony to help launch the center and fund ongoing programs. The gift reinforces Chevron’s long-standing partnership with KCSOS and its commitment to STEAM education and workforce development in Kern County.

“(STEAM) is what we do each and every day, so if we can encourage kids to go into those fields it’s good for our industry, it’s good for society. It’s a win-win for everybody really,” Pitts said.  

The STEAM Yard is designed to support both students and educators. Field trips for K-8 students will feature next generation science standards (NGSS)-aligned activities that connect classroom learning to real-world problem-solving. Teachers can easily incorporate these experiences into their lessons with the help of an extensive curriculum lending library and post-visit follow-up activities.

Students will have opportunities to explore complex concepts in engaging, hands-on ways, Sampson says, and learning will extend beyond the school day. Upcoming offerings include after-school and Saturday camps, public STEAM nights, and hands-on family workshops.

Providing opportunities for career exploration is a key priority of The STEAM Yard, according to Kierstin Webb, director of college and career programs at KCSOS. At the heart of this effort is the College and Career Playground, where curriculum guides students through hands-on activities tied to careers in STEAM fields.

“Through interactive, real-world learning experiences, students discover career pathways in high-demand industries such as healthcare, engineering, construction, and robotics,” Webb said.

She emphasized the important role teachers play in this process. They facilitate discussions, provide real-world context, and support students in uncovering careers that match their individual interests and strengths.

“With flexible lesson integration and access to industry-aligned curriculum, students are engaged in career exploration in a way that is both fun and impactful,” she said. “It’s about connecting the classroom to what’s possible beyond graduation.”

More information about The STEAM Yard can be found at https://kernsteamyard.org/.

The STEAM Yard is located at the corner of K and 21st St. in Downtown Bakersfield.