STEM-Programming powered by community spaces, grounded in justice, joy, and learning.
Rec-To-Tech is about equity, creativity, and access, meeting young people where they are, providing them with tools for exploration and self-expression. Explore our site to discover practical resources and inspiring research, designed to help you launch community-rooted STEM programs grounded in justice, joy, and learning.
Advancing Learning with Tech for Students
Rec-To-Tech transforms community centers into inclusive hubs offering hands-on coding, creativity, and innovation programs.
STEM Tools For Educators
Online toolkit with co-designed STEM lessons empowering community educators to inspire youth creativity and technology skills.
Resources To Spark Innovation
Find program guides and tools supporting youth, families, and Rec Center makerspaces in creative, hands-on innovation.
Data For Decision Makers
Explore evidence-based research supporting innovation for grant writing, reporting, and community investment decisions.
A hub for STEM learning,
creativity, and innovation.
Rec-To-Tech is a four-year initiative funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and led by Digital Harbor Foundation. This project transformed community recreation centers in Baltimore and Pittsburgh into inclusive hubs of STEM learning, creativity, and innovation.
Our Community Impact
Building Futures:
Youth, Educators, and STEM Innovation
1,200+ Youth & Community Participants
We’ve engaged more than 1,200 youth and community members in hands-on STEM and maker-based learning experiences across Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
20+ STEM Programs Launched
We’ve supported over 20 structured STEM education programs across city recreation centers, embedding innovative, maker-based learning in both Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
14 Co-Designed STEM Lessons
We’ve developed 14 core STEM lessons, collaboratively co-designed and piloted with educators and youth. These lessons were implemented through two delivery models: a 14-week and an 8-week Maker Foundations course.
35+ Community Educators Trained
We’ve trained over 35 after-school educators through intensive, equity-focused professional development. They completed a 3-month online PD course facilitated by DHF and participated in tailored in-person workshops and national tech conferences.
6 Major Grant Goals Successfully Met
We realized six key grant deliverables, including an equity-based pedagogy model, co-designed curriculum, youth-centered assessment tool, professional development framework, citywide infrastructure framework, and an online localization toolkit.
2 Cities; 8+ Cross-Sector Partners
We’ve established a cross-city network of partners, including UMBC, Digital Harbor Foundation, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, and Pittsburgh CitiParks, as well as schools, nonprofits, and research institutions.
Check out the Rec-To-Tech Blog!
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants No. DRL-2005502 and DRL-2005484. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.