Inspire the Next Generation of Innovators Volunteer Presenters, Mentors, and Panelists needed for summer tech career literacy program for youth grades K-8. As little as 1 hour of your time could inspire the next tech professional.

About STEM Coding Lab STEM Coding Lab provides K-8 children with the CS/AI/STEM skills needed to succeed in a digital economy.

The Mission: CS Explorers STEM Coding Lab is seeking tech professionals to anchor our CS Explorers Career Literacy Program. This isn’t a standard classroom lecture—it’s an interactive, high-energy summer experience designed to show middle schoolers that a career in tech is exciting, creative, and within their reach.

Who We’re Looking For We are seeking professionals (or enthusiasts!) of all career levels, with the following areas of expertise, that have a desire to inspire the next generation of tech professionals:

Design & Art: UX/UI Design, 3D Modeling, Industrial Design, Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

Data & AI: Data Analysis, Data Science, Machine Learning

Robotics & Engineering: Robotics/Automation Engineering, Software Engineering

Volunteer Roles:

Guest Presenters

Commitment: One 45-minute interactive session.

What you’ll do: Share your career journey and host a "day-in-the-life" activity. Make it hands-on!

Deadline: Submit your activity plan 14 days before your scheduled date.

Career Panelists

Commitment: 2 hours per session.

What you’ll do: Sit on a professional panel to provide students with feedback on their work. You’ll offer real-world context for the skills they’re learning and keep the encouragement high.

Project Mentors

Commitment: 1 hour per session.

What you’ll do: Work with small groups (2-3 students) to help them troubleshoot and polish their projects. You are their "technical consultant" and biggest cheerleader.

2026 Schedule & Location

Location: Various sites throughout Pittsburgh, PA (Allegheny County). You can volunteer for 1, 2 or 3 sessions.

Session 1: June 29 – July 9

Session 2: July 13 – July 23

Session 3: July 27 – August 6

Pre-Program Requirements:

May 2026: 1-hour virtual info session + volunteer application.

June 2026: 1-hour virtual training