Every third Saturday of the month, little T-Birds in the making can be found on campus taking free STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) workshops run by Highline instructors.
The Bring Your Kids to College (BYKC) program is held in Highline’s ThunderLab Makerspace to give local children and their families a college experience while learning about STEAM concepts.
Stephaney Puchalski, who leads the program, works during the week in Highline’s Pure & Applied Science division. She said that because BYCK is a free program all local families are able to participate. Also, normalizing college attendance at an early age can have a powerful long-term impact in shaping how children see their future.
“It builds a sense of possibility. When college is seen as a normal option, children are more likely to believe it’s attainable, rather than only for ‘certain people,’” Puchalski said.
She explained that many kids are intimidated by college but that early exposure can make it feel less unfamiliar and more like a natural next step—especially for kids whose family members didn’t attend college.
Federal Way resident Trey Turner, a computer science student at Highline, agreed that the early exposure to college is beneficial for her children. She brought her son, 7, and daughter, 4, to an Earth Day-themed workshop held in April this year.
“I believe that bringing my kids to Highline consistently will spark their interests to join Highline as a student as they get older and this will introduce them to a range of STEM majors and areas of study that they can utilize in their lives,” Turner said.
Puchalski noted that with the program being so accessible, it closes opportunity gaps for underrepresented or lower-income attendees, thereby giving them the same expectations and information that others receive at home.
“The hands-on activities make learning fun and engaging. These kinds of positive experiences can build confidence and long-term curiosity,” Puchalski said. “Everyone can learn, explore, socialize, problem solve, and experiment without worrying about making a mess.”
Puchalski said the program is a particularly good fit with middle schoolers and that introducing STEAM concepts can help prepare students for future education and careers, especially in high-demand fields like technology and engineering.
For younger kids, the workshops still have plenty to offer. Turner said her son’s favorite activities during the Earth Day workshop involved smashing rocks and making a bird feeder. Her daughter enjoyed creating a flat landform using colorful play-doh.
BYKC workshops are held on the third Saturday of the month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Previous themes have included engineering, sound, robotics, computers, science and technology, and circuits.
The Highline College ThunderLab Makerspace is located in Building 16, Room 106, and is designed for student innovation, 3D printing, prototyping, hands-on learning, design projects, and community STEAM events.