In partnership with Wisconsin-based company ATC, the "Einstein Project" held its first Mobile Design Lab at the Kewaunee Public Library Wednesday. June 11, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
KEWAUNEE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Preventing the “summer slide.” That’s what one organization is trying to do as kids across Northeast Wisconsin begin summer break.
In partnership with Wisconsin-based company ATC, the Einstein Project held its first Mobile Design Lab Wednesday.
Dozens of kids packed the lawn of the Kewaunee Public Library for the event.
They learned how to construct a toy car out of materials like bottle caps and cardboard — things that otherwise would be tossed out.
“I just really like it,” 10-year-old Evra Krentz said. “It gives you the opportunity to let your imagination come out.”
Krentz said he likes the program because it gives him the chance to see his friends during summer break while being creative.
The goal of the free Mobile STEM Lab is to prevent the summer slide for thousands of Wisconsin children while they’re out of school.
“It’s really our hope that we can get kids off the couch, away from the video games and finding that love for creation and design that most kids have,” Denise McFarlin of the Einstein Project said.
McFarlin said hands-on work for kids is the best way for them to learn and allows them to use parts of their brain they may not usually put to work. The hope is that doing creative work like this could lead to something much bigger.
“Projects like this make great opportunities to springboard into writing activities, or reading more about the science concepts of momentum and speed as related to vehicles,” McFarlin said.
The Mobile Design Labs continue to grow each year and make stops in more rural areas throughout the summer. It gives even more kids a chance to build, problem solve and race their cars while having fun in the great outdoors.
“It’s a beautiful day outside, so being outside instead of inside is really great and keeps their innovation moving and their imagination,” parent Megan Schaper said.
Building cars is just one of the many other hands-on activities the Einstein Project has planned for this summer.
These are the dates for the next Einstein Project programs in Northeast Wisconsin:
- August 4: Kewaunee Public Library, 822 Juneau St, Kewaunee, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- June 24 and July 22: Wrightstown Library – 615 Main St, Wrightstown, 1-3 p.m.
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