math, collectively known as the educa-
tional buzzword STEM. "We're trying to
build kind of a geeky community center,"
Rapoport says.
Although there are drop-in times
where kids can engage in free play with
building toys such as LEGOs, K'Nex,
Magna-Tiles, and Zometools, Einstein's
Workshop's specialty is its classes and
workshops, where young people receive
hands-on lessons in robotics, computer-
aided design (CAD) software, Minecraft,
puzzle design, jewelry making, 3-D
printing, and more. CAD workstations,
soldering and electronics stations, 3-D
printing services, and a laser cutter are
also available for those who know how to
use those tools independently. "We try
to be very hands-on. We try not to have
anything you can't touch," Rapoport says.
"Our mission is to get our kids excited
about STEM."
That especially includes girls, since
research shows that girls often begin to
lose interest in STEM topics as early as
third grade, Rapoport says. She wants to
give girls a place where they can see other
girls and women working on cool pro-
jects and building great things. "We have
a not-so-hidden agenda of trying to get
girls interested in science and technol-
ogy," says Rapoport, a Harvard-educated
mathematician who worked in the tech
world for decades. "I was a techie girl. I
was always the only girl in my classes."
Being the only girl doesn't seem to
be a problem at Einstein's Workshop,
though, which aims to be a resource for
both kids and parents. "We try really
hard to cater to all age groups," Rapoport
says. "I don't want anyone to get bored."
einsteinsworkshop.com
Education
ne
48 nshoremag.com September 2014
"We try to be very hands-
on. We try not to have
anything you can't touch.
Our mission is to get our
kids excited about STEM."
Creative Play
Students receive hands-
on lessons in robotics;
Below, Co-founder
Rebecca Rapoport
