February 25 is Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day: A worldwide campaign dedicated to getting young girls excited about learning opportunities in the engineering space. 

Across the globe, engineers are putting their heads together to empower young women to pursue opportunities in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Applied Mathematics) fields, and IDEA Lab Kids is no exception. The hands-on, after-school learning franchise with more than 25 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada offers young girls and boys opportunities to explore engineering and other STEAM disciplines, not just on February 25, but every day, through its classes, camps and workshops.

Through IDEA Lab Kids’ cutting-edge curriculum, aspiring young engineers can get their hands dirty in a range of fields: mechanics, chemistry, electric, automotive, sustainability — you name it. 

Warren Augustin, the program director for IDEA Lab Kids’ Spring Branch, Texas location, and Fernando Martinez, the franchise brand’s marketing manager, say they are proud to be in a position to inspire so many young minds, and they’re especially excited about the number of girls who have taken interest in engaging with STEAM education. 

“Because of COVID, our class sizes are a little smaller right now, but about nine of our 40 total students are girls,” said Augustin. “But over the last week, I’ve gotten 10 to 15 calls from moms looking to enroll their daughters in our robotics classes and other engineering programs. We’re all about that girl empowerment.” 

To ensure that students get the most out of the programs they’re enrolled in and have an opportunity to truly engage with what they’re learning, IDEA Lab Kids keeps its class sizes small. With a 12:1 student to instructor ratio, students get critical hands-on time and attention to develop their engineering skills and feel a sense of comfortability and ownership in the space.

“IDEA Lab Kids is a company that’s really passionate about the intersection of the Arts and Social Sciences with STEM principles, and the possibilities for disrupting traditional educational styles with new technologies and creative, engaging ways of teaching.” Martinez said. “STEAM enforces critical thinking, and boots creativity with hands-on experience. Having fun while learning gets kids super excited. We really have a diverse curriculum that covers all aspects of the STEAM spectrum.”

Augustin says that at the core of it all, IDEA Lab Kids is giving students a creative space to explore their interests in science, engineering and art. And it’s because of that kind of creative freedom that they’re learning about who they are and what they want to do. 

 “We’re giving girls the opportunity and space to discover what they want to do. At the Lab whatever they want to grow to do, they can do it,” said Augustin. “They get excited because they can explore their identity and the careers of the future. We’re providing the template for them to develop the skills of tomorrow while create their own things, and be the best version of themselves.”

Devina Bhojwani, IDEA Lab Kids’ co-owners and president, says her team is always looking for ways to innovate and educate young minds through STEAM-based education, and she’s thrilled about the increasing opportunities to encourage young girls to take interest in programs that will set them up for success in the future. 

“It’s so important for kids to be introduced to STEAM activities at a young age,” Bhojwani said. “I’m really grateful to be in a position that’s fostering so much creativity and yearning for new knowledge in young girls and boys. For me, that’s a big motivator in our efforts to expand to more communities across the country.”

The startup costs for an IDEA Lab Kids franchise range from $98,100 to $271,000. The franchise fee is $35,500. To learn more about franchising with IDEA Lab Kids, visit https://www.franchise.idealabkids.com