Ah, Chicago in April. There’s still a bit of, um, precipitation, falling from the sky, but spring is in the air! Which is great because Earth Day is best enjoyed outside. In addition to Earth Day, April is host to National Robotics Week and other special STEM days. Read on for our suggestions of what and where to celebrate STEM and STEAM around Chicago this month.
What to Do in Chicago in April for STEM and STEAM Fun
Be sure to confirm all events before you head out!
Don’t miss our Spring Break Camp Guide, Summer Camp Guide, and Summer Camp Guide Just for Girls.
Here’s what’s happening around the Chicago metro area for Earth Day. Don’t let the name fools you, there are events throughout the month.
We have a few ideas for National Robotics Week.
Older kids will have a blast at Northwestern University’s Splash Weekend.
Fermilab STEM Career Day is another great event for high school students from around the region.
During National Parks Week you can visit Pullman, the only National Park in Chicago. The original “company town,” Pullman presents an interesting slice of history. If you’re looking for the grand brush with nature that many expect from national parks, head east across the state line to the nearby Indiana Dunes National Park.
Make something at a library makerspace near you in honor of National Library Week!
Science Careers in Search of Women at Argonne National Labs is typically held in April, but maybe it’s postponed this year. We’ll share details when we have them. Fermilab’s annual Latinas in STEM Program program also seems to be on hold
Chicago Cultural Events in April
See our picks for family-friendly performances around town.
On April 27, 2019 visit and make a purchase or five at your favorite indie bookstore in Chicagoland in honor of Independent Bookstore Day. The team from the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc. made a wonderful map of indie bookstores in Chicagoland in 2018.
STEM at Home
Learning sure isn’t limited to classrooms. Use these April STEM events and themes to explore at home, in your library or with your youth group!
Check out our latest guides: Spring Break, Summer STEM Camps, and STEM Camps for Girls.
If you’re looking for afterschool or weekend programs, be sure to check our Guide to Coding Classes around Chicago and our Guide to 20 Awesome STEM Enrichment Classes.