SPECS™ Engineering for kids & Teens
STEM Enrichment program
Is Your Child Struggling in Math or Science and Losing Confidence? Or Excelling but Not Being Challenged Enough?
Welcome to SPECS™
Student Projects through Engineering and Community Service is a premium, hands-on STEM enrichment program led by a licensed STEM teacher and industry professionals.
Every student has potential. Sometimes, all they need is the right opportunity to discover just how much they can achieve. Whether your child is working to build confidence in math and science or already excels and needs greater challenges, SPECS™ provides opportunities
for both to thrive... right here in Scottsdale!
Currently enrolling ages 11–13 and 14-18*, our program introduces young learners to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in a safe, fun, and high-energy environment. Perfect for all students!
Empowering Communities Through I³
I³™ (Imagination Ignites Innovation™ ) empowers our innovators to take part in Student Projects through Engineering and Community Service (SPECS™). By using collaboration and creative practices, young learners develop the foundation every successful student needs—but few receive.
Discovery Team — Open Enrollment for All Skill Levels
Two Age Groups: Ages 11 - 13 and 14 - 18
No Previous STEM Experience Required!
Designed for students of all skill levels in the SPECS™ Engineering Program. Through exciting, hands-on STEM challenges, the Discovery Team is where every student builds the foundational skills and confidence needed to advance to the next level of SPECS™. Students explore their abilities, learn how to bring their ideas to life, and discover just how capable they truly are!
*Solutions Team — Advanced Project Team
The solutions team is perfect for students moving up from the Discovery Team OR students who
enroll with a strong interest in STEM. On this team, students use their skills to design and build solutions
to community problems. The Solutions Team is also great for high school students looking to build their
college resumes quickly, gain real-world experience, and/or get a jumpstart on future STEM careers. Students join the Solutions Team through one of the following paths: promotion from the Discovery Team, teacher recommendation, or interview with the SPECS™ founders.
Call us at 480-808-STEM to discuss enrollment if you have an interested high school student.
Our students don’t just learn - they transform. Here, your child collaborates directly with industry
experts, explores diverse technical fields, and masters the engineering design process with clear intent.
We cultivate the critical self-reliance and forward-thinking mindsets necessary to make a lasting
impact on any career path they choose. Some of the topics students will explore include:
Forensic Science, Car Design & Competitive Races, Rocket Design & Launch Competitions PLUS More!
Our students are given the opportunity to use their STEM skills to design and build solutions that
make a real difference in their community.
Your child builds solutions for the community—while our team builds innovators and leaders for tomorrow!
Empowering the Next Generation
Two Ways to Participate
OR
Why Our Students Excel
Capture the SPECS™ - STEM Enrichment Program
Excitement for Kids and Teens
“Making STEM Meaningful, Engaging, and Inspiring!”
"Karen is the only educator I’ve met who made STEM engaging and meaningful for my daughter. Her passion, expertise, and ability to connect with students are exceptional. We’re thrilled to be part of SPECS™ and excited for our daughter to develop additional skills that will help shape her future!"
Lilkar M.
Sofia's Mom
“An Incredible Opportunity for Young Innovators!”
"As a retired Aerospace Engineer, I’m incredibly impressed by what Karen has created at SPECS ™! The engineering lab is remarkable, and her dedication is unmatched. She’s a machine who never stops creating opportunities for these kids! By bringing together experienced STEM professionals, she’s giving young people the chance to explore careers, discover their potential, and imagine futures they never thought possible. She’s even providing free tuition to select students who otherwise couldn’t afford it. This is more than an engineering program—it’s an opportunity to change young lives! I’m proud to be part of it."
Alfred Carstens
Retired Aerospace Engineer | SPECS™ Professional Mentor
“A Place Where Young People Discover Their Potential!”
"When I walked into the SPECS™ engineering lab, I was overwhelmed by what I witnessed. Seeing the incredible professionals and high school mentors she's brought together to inspire these kids nearly brought me to tears. As a grandmother, I know there are opportunities I simply can't give my grandson on my own. Karen has created a place that can. What makes SPECS™ so special is that she's doing this for an entire community of young people, helping them build confidence, discover their potential, and imagine brighter futures. This is so much more than a STEM program. It's a community investing in its future!"
Kathy B.
Proud Grandmother & Community Supporter
"My Daughter Loves Science Now!"
"Karen has an incredible ability to make even the most challenging concepts easy to understand. Before working with her, my daughter hated science. Now, thanks to Karen, she’s a chemistry junkie! She didn’t just help my daughter understand science—she helped her fall in love with it!"
Brad S.
Ella's Dad