STEAM-PoWERED SATURDAYS

STEAM-Powered Saturdays are free, learn-together workshops for families with children ages 4-14. These fun, hands-on projects help children discover science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM) through creative play and collaborative learning.

Every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. Brought to you for free through the support of the T Backer Memorial Foundation, SRC Inc and the Technology Management Institute.

Participation in STEAM-Powered Saturday activities is open to the general pubic and does not require advance registration. Children must be accompanied by an adult who will work with them on the project provided.

Upcoming Topics

Workshop topics vary! Some topics are better suited towards older children, while some are geared towards younger learners. Parents and guardians are encouraged to use their discretion when deciding whether a specific activity is the right choice for their kids, keeping in mind that advanced activities may take longer and require more fine motor skills to complete. Recommended ages are always provided in the workshop descriptions. Here’s what’s coming up next:

Oct 18, 2025 10:00 am – 1:00 pm STEAM-Powered Saturday: Build A BridgeFamilies are invited to join us every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month for a free, fun hands-on project. These mind-expanding projects help children discover creative play through science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. On October 18th, in honor of Troy's Archtober celebration, STEAM-Powered Saturday's activity will be the "Building Bridges Challenge!" Participants will become an architect for the day and use common household supplies to build a miniature bridge! Can you complete the challenge? Join us anytime from 10am-1pm to find out!
Nov 1, 2025 10:00 am – 1:00 pm STEAM-Powered Saturday: Paper Inventions with Author Kathy Ceceri!Join us for a very special STEAM-Powered Saturday and book release celebration with STEM author Kathy Ceceri! Families are invited to join us for a free, hands-on activity from Kathy's new book, "Paper Inventions!" Along with the activity, Kathy will be there to talk about her book and projects, with copies for sale! This workshop is part of STEAM-Powered Saturdays at Tech Valley Center of Gravity, a free bimonthly drop-in STEAM workshop for children and their families, made possible through the support of the T Backer Memorial Foundation, SRC Inc and the Technology Management Institute.
Nov 15, 2025 10:00 am – 1:00 pm STEAM-Powered Saturday: Annual Egg Drop Challenge!Families are invited to join us every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month for a free, fun hands-on project. These mind-expanding projects help children discover creative play through science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. This workshop topic is: Egg Drop Challenge! This month's project is our annual "Egg Drop Challenge." Design your own contraptions to keep an egg safe from a single story fall using recycled material.

Event FAQs

  • Where are you located? Where do I park?
    • We are located within Tech Valley Center of Gravity at 30 3rd St, in Troy NY. This is a private, locked facility: ring the doorbell for entry.We do not have designated parking for our facility, but street parking is free. Please note, street parking on Saturdays is limited due to the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market. We recommend parking in one of the municipal parking lots located within several blocks of our location, and walking over. Parking in these lots is free on Saturdays.
  • Do STEAM-Powered Saturday events last for three hours? Do I have to be there the whole time? Do I need to pre-register?
    • This is a drop-in workshop; families may stay for the whole time period, or pop in anytime from 10am-1pm. We recommend allocating a minimum of 30 minutes for the activity itself.
    • Parents are required to stay in the building with their children at all times. This is a family workshop, so everyone who comes should be ready to participate! Collaboration is part of the fun.
    • There is no pre-registration required.
  • Can I bring my toddler/baby/teenager to STEAM-Powered Saturday?
    • Yes! The workshops are geared towards children ages 4-14, but siblings of all ages are welcome in the space. Our bathroom is equipped with a changing table, and the THINQubator has a playpen with flooring for babies/toddlers.
  • I work with a school/homeschool group/after-school club/scout group. Could we schedule a private workshop or field trip? How much does that cost?
    • Yes! Workshops are available for any group that is interested; pricing varies depending on topic. We offer several workshops for a variety of ages, from Noodle Doodle Bots for grade school children to Robot Battles for high schoolers. View our guide for educators here to learn more.
    • We work hard to ensure that our programming is financially accessible, and work with schools and other organizations to ensure you can find a program that fits your budget. Financial aid is available for educational institutions with demonstrated need.
    • All schools located in Troy are eligible for financial aid.
  • Can we host a birthday party here?
    • Yes! You can arrange to host a STEAM-powered birthday party right here in the space. Learn more here. Please note, prices are for non-members only. TVCOG members may use the space at either a reduced cost or no cost, depending on event details.
  • Why do we have to check in every time we visit the space?
    • Everyone who comes into TVCOG is required to check in, for insurance purposes. We are located within a Makerspace, which contains dangerous equipment and we require that everyone follow basic safety protocols. Check in is automated for TVCOG members.
  • Do you offer other workshops for children and families?
    • Yes! STEAM-Powered Saturday is currently our only regularly running free workshop for families and youth, thanks to the support of the T Backer Memorial Foundation, but we do offer a variety of other options at cost. We offer private STEAM workshops for family groups, called STEAM Studio, which are the same format as STEAM-Powered Saturdays and available by appointment. We also offer individualized classes for children ages 12+ in our electronics, fiber arts, glass arts and woodshop zones which are available by request. In addition, the THINQubator will occasionally host some public classes, like 3D printing for Kids, which can be found on TVCOG’s main class listing along with our offerings for adults.
  • This place is great! Can my kids become members and use the space more regularly?
    • We do not offer memberships just for children (under 18) or memberships just for access to the THINQubator, but you can still get access through other types of membership! The THINQubator is just one of the many “zones” that the Makerspace is broken down into; all TVCOG members are welcome to use the THINQubator when it is not reserved for events, just like they would any other zone. Families can join at the family membership level, which provides access to the shops for the whole family. Children must be accompanied by adults at all times. Access to shops downstairs for children 14+ require prior approval by TVCOG staff.