STEAM Night Brings Learning, Community Together
by Michael ODay, DoDEA Americas
April 9, 2025

On March 20, 2025, nearly 350 students, families, and community members gathered at Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Americas Crossroads Elementary School on Marine Corps Base Quantico for STEAM Night.

Led by STEAM teacher Mrs. Mari Bottelson, the event highlighted the value of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) for military-connected students.

STEAM education combines hands-on learning with problem-solving skills. For military kids, who often face frequent moves and deployed parents, it offers stability and builds abilities needed for future careers in the military or STEM fields—both critical to national security.

“STEAM Night shows what happens when students, families, staff, and community partners come together,” said Dr. Lee, assistant principal at Crossroads Elementary. “It’s about creating real opportunities for learning and connection.”

The event featured activities like launching stomp rockets, building 3D constellations, and designing lunar landers for simulated moon landings. Families explored astronaut challenges to learn why astronauts float in space, while the Virginia Discovery Museum’s STARLAB planetarium provided a look at the night sky.

“The kids loved it,” said teacher Mrs. Pedraza. “They were still talking about it the next morning.”

Local partnerships made it possible. The U.S. Space Force and 19th Space Defense Squadron from Dahlgren, Virginia, and the Marine Corps Systems Command STEM Outreach Program from Quantico shared expertise. Quantico Middle High School students and Marine volunteers from G-1 ADJ and Security Battalion helped out, while the Crossroads Elementary PEA covered supplies and the STARLAB rental. An EFMP outreach table offered family resources.

“It was a great night,” one parent said. “It showed how fun learning can be for kids and families alike.”

Events like STEAM Night ties into DoDEA’s consistent top national rankings on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the “Nation’s Report Card.” STEAM’s focus on practical, interdisciplinary learning helps drive those results.

For military-connected students, events like this prepare them for the future. By integrating STEAM into classrooms and community events, Crossroads Elementary equips kids with skills to succeed, supporting DoDEA’s strong academic standing.

DoDEA operates as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs for the Department of Defense. DoDEA operates 161 accredited schools in 9 districts in 11 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA Americas operates 50 accredited schools across two districts, located on 16 military installations, including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Committed to excellence in education, DoDEA fosters well-rounded, lifelong learners, equipping them to succeed in a dynamic world.

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) | U.S. Department of Defense

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