STEAM on Wheels looks to open home base location in the future

Article By Joushua Blount

ROCK ISLAND, Ill (KWQC) - Sam McCullum is the man behind STEAM on Wheels, a volunteer-based non-profit where science, tech, engineering, and math meet with art to form a unique experience that enriches children and helps them learn concepts in a joyful environment.

While in college, McCullum was a graduate assistant for the engineering school at Western Illinois University Quad City Campus. Years later, McCullum decided to take his love of engineering and turn it into a safe learning opportunity for young kids.

That’s how STEAM on Wheels got rolling.

“The reason steam on wheels was created is because I wish I had something like this when I was growing up. And I have an engineering background. And so this was like, okay, can I take my work experience with, you know, my schooling, and I created the steam program,” said McCullum, Founder and Executive Director.

The opportunities offered by the organization already made a difference for 13-year-old Taliyah Toney-Slater.

“Certain things like math, because I’m not that good at math, but it really does help. Like, when I’m trying to think of something I can really like, think back to the activities that we do in the steam lab. And it will help me like a test, just random quizzes, anything like that,” said Toney- Slater.

Since being in operation and partnering with the MLK Center in Rock Island to facilitate his vision through a new steam lab, McCullum says he wants to take his vision a step further. He plans to open a home base on 4th Avenue, just a few minutes from the MLK Center.

“It’s gonna be more advanced. And it’s going to be a it’s a feeder program. So kids that come that come to this program, once they, they have the expertise and they’re ready to they’re ready to, you know, step it up a notch, they can come over to our space. The other steam lab will also be a field trip experience as well for schools, all around the quad cities and near the quad cities as well,” said McCullum.

The children involved get the chance to do a range of activities from 3D printing to constructing toy airplanes. 9-year-old Kasanova Overton says he enjoys learning about electronics

“That circuit you snap the circus together and you learn how to turn it on,” said Overton. With every activity, McCullum says he gets to live through the students

“Honestly, it is me reliving my childhood dream. It’s like I see things I’ll say, hmm, I wish I would have learned this as a kid. I don’t know everything I like to, you know, I go to look at different conferences, I have conversations with different leaders in the community that can give me tours of their facility. And then that’s what helps me create new new curriculums,” said McCullum.

McCullum says the goal is to show children that they have unlimited options for the future.

“I’m not pushing any kid to go into engineering. I’m not also pushing every kid to go into the trade. This is a neutral ground to just show these kids what is out there. And this is a great tool and a resource for people that have those skill sets to come out and volunteer and speak to these kids and show them what other opportunities are out there, " said McCullum.

The staff with the STEAM organization says the STEAM lab located at the MLK Center in Rock Island is anticipated to be open for operation on Oct 1. and the home base will open Oct 31. To learn more about STEAM click here.