STEM & Coding Classes in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter

For budding engineers or scientists, a STEM, LEGO or coding class might just be the perfect after-school or school holiday activity. Here are some classes in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter for your kids. There are sessions for preschoolers as well as school-age kids.

Bricks 4 Kidz

Location: New Lambton
Age(s): Kids 5 – 12
Website: Bricks 4 Kidz website

Let your kids learn STEM concepts with LEGO with a Bricks 4 Kidz workshop. Designed for kids aged 5-12 years old the workshops, staffed by friendly, trained and screened staff, allow kids the opportunity to create, play and learn with LEGO all while making new friends and having fun. In addition to after-school sessions, there are also school holiday sessions.

Maitland Libraries

Location: Rutherford & Thornton Libraries
Age(s): TBA
Website: Maitland Libraries

Discovery Zone is available at the Rutherford & Thornton branches of Maitland Libraries during school holidays. It’s a brand new zone equipped with different STEM activities, offering children the opportunity to create, investigate, learn and develop multiliteracy skills through their own initiative while having fun. 

MAP (Multi Arts Pavilion) mima Play

Location: Speers Point Park
Website: MAP mima

Visitors can hire a MAP Play kit to enjoy self-directed STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) activities in Speers Point Park. Music Kits – Designed for small group play, these kits use music to help children understand the concept behind conductive electricity. Create your own band and make your own music using anything that conducts electricity – a spoon, pipe cleaners or even yourself! Kits cater for up to four people and can be hired for one hour. Cost: $8 for one hour. Bookings for the packs can be made in person at MAP mima during opening hours. Hirers will be asked to leave contact details and proof of identity for return of kits.

Newcastle Digital Library – Coder’s Corner

Location: Various
Age(s): 7+
Website: Coder’s Corner

Turn your child’s love of video games into a life skill. Operating out of schools in the Newcastle and Hunter region, Coder’s Corner provides all the right tools for children to become master coders! In their structured, tailored courses, kids will be given the opportunity to learn programming essentials, all the way up to industry-standard coding practices in a fun and engaging way!

Newcastle Libraries

Location: Online
Age(s): Little Bang Discovery Club (4 – 8)
Website: Newcastle Libraries

A hugely popular, fun-filled 4-session science program hosted by Newcastle Libraries is now available online! Young children are already great scientists without even knowing it. This hands-on program combines everyday objects and experiences with genuine scientific enquiry methods that children and their accompanying adults will thoroughly enjoy. A different program is presented in each of the sessions. A parent or carer is required to participate with the children in these sessions.

SMART at Newcastle University

Location: TBA
Age(s): 8-12
Website: SMART at Newcastle University

In 2021, SMART are preparing to launch an after-school STEM Club, initially for children in years 3-6 (ages 8-12). They are developing an in-person and online program.

The Creative Co.

Location: Wallsend
Age(s): 4-10
Website: The Creative Co.

The Creative Co. offer a Little Big Scientists class for 4-10 year olds where children can explore scientific concepts such as physics, chemistry, biology and much more while socialising and having fun in a small group environment.

The Young Architects

Location: Maitland Regional Art Gallery
Age(s): 12-16
Website: Maitland Regional Art Gallery

The Young Architects is a monthly program for 12-16 year old’s designed to incorporate different key learning areas such as science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. TYA brings kids together after school and in the school holidays to create, learn, and grow together.

Young Engineers

Location: Various locations throughout Newcastle & Maitland
Age(s): TBA
Website: Young Engineers

Young Engineers offers unique STEM programs where children have fun while learning critical skills for the digital age! In addition to their school incursions, Young Engineers offer after-school clubs, holiday camps and birthday parties. Young Engineers after-school clubs provide extracurricular opportunities for students to access their unique STEM education programs. All Young Engineers after-school clubs are offered via a partnership model between local primary schools and one of their franchisees. If your school does not offer an after-school club, Young Engineers also offer Engineering Camps which are delivered by Young Engineers franchisees throughout Australia during the school holidays. They are full of fun and packed with STEM learning. Visit their website for dates and locations.