A $20,000 donation from a local engineering company is launching a mobile science classroom that will bring hands-on STEM education to youth throughout Kootenai County and surrounding areas. Matt Hall, managing member at HMH Engineering, presented the check Wednesday morning at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds to Teresa Balderrama, the county’s 4-H Associate Extension Educator, marking a significant step forward for the county’s youth STEM programming.
The funds will transform a bus into a traveling STEM lab equipped with interactive learning activities. The mobile classroom will serve students in Kootenai County and neighboring regions, expanding access to hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction beyond traditional school settings.
Bringing STEM Education to North Idaho Communities
The 4-H STEM bus will operate under a membership model, with annual enrollment at $40 per youth. Regular classes currently meet after school on Wednesdays, but the mobile unit will extend the program’s reach significantly. The bus will travel to schools throughout North Idaho to host STEM nights and make pop-up appearances at community events, including Art on the Green in Coeur d’Alene.
Activities aboard the bus focus on low-tech, accessible STEM learning—students will engage in structure-building projects and other hands-on experiments designed to spark interest in science and engineering fundamentals. The approach keeps the barrier to entry low while introducing core concepts that often captivate young learners.
Balderrama emphasized the program’s mission to expand opportunity. “The whole idea is to bring education to kids out in the community and make 4-H a little more accessible,” she told the Coeur d’Alene Press.
Design and Timeline
HMH Engineering is collaborating with Bartman Signs to create the bus’s vinyl wrap, which features a purple, space-inspired design that reflects the STEM focus and appeals to the target youth audience. Hall expects the bus to be fully equipped and operational within a month.
Balderrama will serve as the bus operator and is currently earning her commercial driver’s license to ensure she can navigate various routes and community locations throughout the region. The $20,000 donation covers decorating, equipping, and initial operating costs for the mobile classroom.
Community Investment in Youth
Hall’s involvement in the project stems from personal experience. “We’ve been involved in 4-H since my kids were doing it,” he told the Coeur d’Alene Press, reflecting a commitment many North Idaho families share to youth development and experiential learning.
The initiative addresses a recognized gap in rural and semi-rural access to STEM programming. By bringing the classroom on the road, 4-H can reach students in Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum, and other communities where after-school programming options may be limited. The model also provides flexibility for schools hosting STEM nights as part of their engagement efforts.
Youth interested in joining the 4-H STEM program can enroll for $40 annually. Interested families should contact the Kootenai County 4-H office for registration details and information about regular Wednesday classes and upcoming mobile classroom visits to their school or community.