In October 2017, the Show Low Public Library became a collaborator of the community by launching a public makerspace. In March of 2018, the library created a set of astronomy-oriented grab and go activities, programming and resources supporting their NASA community grant. These grab and go kits allowed students to explore the world of space and astronomy even further on their own. WIth funding from RAIN they were able to expand their makerspace and develop the astronomy program for the community.

What was the impact?

The space has already seen about 1,500 visitors in a town of with a population of 11,000. The students who attend are between the ages 6-14 and this makerspace offers them the room and resources in a rural community that they didn’t have before.

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The Arizona Rural Activation and Innovation Network (RAIN) is funded by the National Science Foundation to oversee grant funding for informal STEM education projects in four rural Arizona communities: Cochise County, Graham and Greenlee County, the Verde Valley, and the Navapache/White Mountains region. RAIN acts as a resource for best practices in informal STEM program development and works to highlight effective STEM programs, employers  and organizations across the state of Arizona. Interested in applying for a grant? Visit our website today and learn more about the opportunities in your community.