Program opportunities — watchlist¶
Ideas to offer as Apex STEM programming or attend with students. Not approved programs until the board or program lead evaluates fit, insurance, and season load.
Invention Convention New York (IC-NY)¶
| Site | newyorkinvents.org |
| Operator | Terra Science and Education (501(c)(3)) |
| Status | Watch — may offer curriculum/workshops or support student participation |
| Logged | 2026-10-15 |
Why it might fit Apex STEM¶
- Free, standards-aligned (NGSS/ELA) K–12 invention track: problem ID → prototype → pitch — complements STEM Racing’s engineering and enterprise skills.
- 9–12 week implementation window (site schedule: September–March) — could run parallel to build season or as a lighter Open STEM / outreach offering.
- Free on-site or virtual PD for educators and program leaders (site).
Pathways for NJ students (Somerset / Union area)¶
| Path | Notes |
|---|---|
| TNJSF (regional) | Terra NJ Science Fair — grades 9–12 in Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren (site “Portals” section). |
| IC NY Virtual | Individual preliminaries if not advancing via an affiliated fair. |
| Partner programs | PLTW, 4-H, FFA, Junior Achievement can advance students to IC-NY (site). |
| IC NY State Finals | April, New York State Museum, Albany — $30 participation fee. |
| U.S. National | NY gold medalists → June 2027, Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI. |
Timing (from public site, 2026)¶
- IC-NY 2027 project registration opens January (banner on homepage).
- Curriculum implementation typically September–March before state finals in April.
Open questions (before committing)¶
- [ ] Season overlap with STEM Racing (Nov–Apr build + Regionals/Nationals) — capacity for a second competition track?
- [ ] Offer: adopt IC curriculum for workshops, junior mentors, or school outreach vs. Attend: Ridge Racers / Apex students enter via TNJSF or virtual prelim.
- [ ] Terra grant for classroom materials — eligibility if Apex runs IC as a program (site “Terra Grant”).
- [ ] Judge / volunteer / sponsor roles at IC-NY for board or mentors.
Contacts (public)¶
- Email & address: newyorkinvents.org footer (Terra Science and Education, Syracuse)
- Phone: +1 (315) 422-2902
- On-site PD: email link on homepage “Free on-site PD for teachers” section
Next step when ready: Program lead + board skim TNJSF registration rules and April Albany logistics; decide offer vs. attend for 2026–27 or 2027–28.