Exploring STEAM: Engaging Students in Bar Harbor

Plus a quick note from us about why we might be a bit light on news today (and the next few days).

Apr 17, 2026

A young child listens to a stethoscope on a medical practice dummy while a woman assists, surrounded by medical supplies and educational materials.

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Psychiatry.

BAR HARBOR—Three elementary students bounced toward an Acadia National Park ranger stationed in the library at Bar Harbor’s elementary school.

The ranger held a giant bone in her hand.

“Can we touch it?” one girl asked, looking up.

“Of course!” the ranger smiled as three sets of hands and her own all held the massive bone up.

“What is it?” one of the girls whispered.

It was part of STEAM night at the Conners Emerson School, an annual event.

STEAM stands for “Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics.” The theory is that these are places where students can be guided toward inquiry, critical thinking, and dialogue. They are access points.

A park ranger interacts with four children in a library setting, where the kids are holding a large whale bone, engaging in a hands-on educational activity.

A young boy in a gray hoodie smiles while threading beads on a string at a table with a woman wearing a black hat. They are engaged in a creative activity, surrounded by colorful markers and activity sheets.

A lively gymnasium filled with children and adults engaged in various activities. A woman assists a child sitting on colorful foam mats with digital devices while other kids play and explore on the mats nearby. Tables in the background showcase different exhibits.

Children and adults engaged in a hands-on activity at a school gymnasium, creating structures with colorful craft sticks and materials on tables.

Another access point was on the floor where teams of two students could have races with fake animals (representing real ones) to figure out those animals normal speeds.

Beyond that was a table with a medical mannequin where students (and their parents) could try medical tools. One boy stayed for a half hour, easily, trying one thing after another and another, learning, listening, trying, the entire time.

According to the Center for Innovation and Education, “STEAM education is a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to learning that combines science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. It harnesses the natural symbiosis between these disciplines to foster creative problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking.”

The school has been fostering just that for years and it shows in how big the STEAM event is, with local agencies—including Wright Ryan the company building the new school to replace the old, broken building that currently houses the Bar Harbor students.

A person stands smiling beside a table displaying architectural plans and drawings, with a gymnasium background featuring wooden bleachers.

Two children playing with educational toys on the floor of a library, one arranging pieces while the other writes on a large red game mat.

A man in a dark shirt stands beside a table displaying materials for a water filtration project related to the International Space Station. The table features cups of water, documents, and filtration equipment, while more items are visible in the background.

A young child and a girl are engaged in a math activity at a table in a gymnasium, with various educational materials and craft supplies scattered on the table.

Woodard and Curran, another company known for its environmental work and testing were there too, with a display about how astronauts filter their water at the International Space Station.

Bar Harbor hosts part of Acadia National Park, Jackson Laboratory, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, and Mount Desert Island Hospital though much is mentioned about the tourism sector of the economy, science and medicine is a big deal on this island and in the school.

But science also helps keep us fit at the hospital. It figures out how to rebuild Acadia National Park’s roads after horrific storms in 2024 and the school that will host Conners Emerson students next year. It helps chefs determine the best food to serve and how to cook it safely.

It is everywhere.

“It’s really important for students to have STEAM in their lives because that’s what runs our whole world these days,” said Conners Emerson STEAM teacher Chrissy Parkinson in 2024. “We all rely on science, technology, engineering, and math for nearly every facet of our lives, whether we realize it or not, and the art element that incorporates creativity and makes it beautiful. Showing kids (and their families) that their passions now can turn into careers, makes me excited and hopeful for the future.”

Focus and hard work brought the Science Olympiads, returning state champions, a second place visit in Orono at the 2025 state championships, April 11. And it brought families and students to the Conners Emerson School’s STEAM night last night where area agencies interacted with students.

The Conners Emerson Science Olympiad team came home with a silver finish in the state championship meet in Orono, competing in 23 events against four other state teams.

COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION

A group of five kids participating in a bake sale, standing behind a table filled with baked goods and snacks, with colorful banners in the background.

Three girls smiling behind a table filled with various baked goods at a school bake sale, with a colorful 'Bake Sale' banner in the background.

Two young boys working in a kitchen, posing with thumbs up and peace signs. The counter displays trays of spaghetti, meat sauce, and a red sauce.

A young boy in a camouflage shirt intently builds with a colorful toy construction set on a black table at a busy event.

The night was about STEAM, but underneath that focus were threads of community of fundraising and of connection.

Parents met in the gym, formed clusters of discussion before being pulled to the next interesting table by their children’s hands or voices.

The fifth grade had a bake sale table to help fund their camping trip at the end of the year, students managed the table, made the sales, made the connections with their customers.

“We’re almost there,” one girl said of the fundraising, “but we’re not quite there.”

A spaghetti supper anchored the cafeteria. There those who partook in pasta could help eighth graders fund their class trip. Eighth graders served up the food and took the cash.

STEAM AND TEACHERS AND THE FUTURE

A child with curly hair wearing a blue tie-dye shirt participates in a hands-on activity, holding colorful straws and looking thoughtfully. In the background, another child in a star-patterned hoodie is focused on a project, with tables set up for various activities.

A young girl in a pink hoodie is cutting purple paper while participating in a craft activity, with an adult woman supervising. Another young girl stands nearby, observing. Various craft supplies are spread out on a table.

A young girl in a polka dot shirt and a woman in a blue jacket are engaged in a crafting activity at a table. They are using markers and looking at various colorful papers and materials spread out on the table.

Entrance to a gymnasium with a colorful banner reading 'WELCOME TO S.T.E.A.M. NIGHT' and people engaging in activities inside.

At one STEAM night, Jenna from the Jackson Lab who was volunteering relayed a story of when she was in third grade.

A teacher said, “One day you’re going to be writing my things.”

That teacher saw something in Jena and introduced her to a world of science and writing and learning that made an impact. “She was the best.”

At the same table, her co-worker Samia had said, “I had a really cool teacher in high school.”

That teacher told her, “You can do anything.”

Samia was a graduate student in her fourth year at the lab, proving her teacher right.

Both women were positively impacted by adults believing in them and interacting with those adults in positive ways.

Those same kind of interactions are happening with devoted teachers and staff at Conners Emerson in the class room, at STEAM nights, and at clubs like the Science Olympiads.

Children engaged in STEM activities at a library table with Snap Circuits, showcasing various electronic components and a user manual.

A child and an adult woman participate in a hands-on medical demonstration with a simulation mannequin. The child is using medical equipment, while the woman provides guidance. Various educational posters and materials are visible in the background.

A young boy focused on building a circuit with colorful electronic components on a table, while adults and children stand nearby in a playful learning environment.

““Science Olympiad gives these kids the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics beyond what they will encounter in a typical middle school curriculum. They all prepared for the research projects by taking tests designed for high school students, studying high school and college texts in the areas of physics and calculus. The build projects are not only an opportunity for students with hands-on strengths, but also require adherence to a very strict set of parameters and a need to develop detailed design and practice logs. Several of the events require spontaneous responses, requiring the students to develop critical and creative problem solving strategies,” Mary Mackay previously told the Bar Harbor Story.

“Being a contributing member of a team that focuses on the scientific process (accepting failure, redirection, creative solutions), develops a life skill that will prepare them for the academic and career journey ahead. Simply being part of a team, showing up, focusing on the task at hand, overcoming relationship obstacles, making connections, and building partnerships gives students a sense of community that is vital to their wellbeing,” she’d said. “Any time we give students the opportunity to address and overcome challenges, their self-esteem increases.”

A group of people engaged in a crafting activity at a table with blue buckets and art supplies. A child in a gray hoodie is focused on stringing beads, while a woman in a black cap watches attentively.

Colorful model houses with LED lights displayed on a table, alongside an informational sign about the risks of copper in drinking water.

Photos: Carrie Jones/Bar Harbor Story.

QUICK NOTE FROM US:

Due to a little bit of financial drama (Hackers! Not on here. Do not worry.) and life drama, we were light on news today and we will likely be a bit lighter than normal (unless there is a community emergency) this weekend, potentially through Monday.

We apologize for that.

There are just two of us here, so when life things happen, it impacts the Story, too. That’s mostly because we don’t want to put out news unless we’re pretty certain that our brains are good enough. That’s a pitfall of independent daily news and we apologize for that. We really appreciate you being here with us though and your support! Thank you for your kindness.

We made a graphic that we haven’t had time to tweak, but it’s been a day, so we’re going to share it here anyway in the hopes that it will help you know what we try to give to you and that you’re such a huge part of everything here in this wild, wonderful, exceptional community.

Carrie and Shaun

Text promoting the importance of community impact and local news from Bar Harbor Story, highlighting their success in readership and dedication to uplifting features.

Follow us on Facebook or BlueSky or Instagram. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here.

Bar Harbor Story is a mostly reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thanks for being here with us and being part of our community too!

Thanks for reading Bar Harbor Story! This post is public so feel free to share it.

If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below.

To support The Story

If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.

Discover more from Bar Harbor Story

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Bar Harbor Story

Faster. Smarter. News For Our Community

In Bar Harbor, Students Explore Science — and Possible Futures.