When I started this blog two years ago (and obviously didn’t really meet my goal of blogging regularly), I was also in the midst of trying to bring a passion project to life. And to be fair, it was kind of a project I inherited, so I can’t take the credit for the idea. But it definitely became a passion and a project that I didn’t necessarily think would ever become a reality.
It all started with a co-worker’s wild idea to build a mobile STEM/Maker bus that could bring experiences and opportunities to the students in our 65+ schools in our district. Then that wild idea turned into a request that my boss made to get a surplus school bus from our transportation department. That was the spring of 2016. But then it was still just a wild dream. There were no funds to renovate the bus, so it sat at in a gravel lot at our bus garage for the next almost two years.
But the amazing thing about a passion project (or a project that becomes your passion) is that when you have something started, even when it may not be moving forward, it is still sitting there, calling to you. I won’t begin to pretend that I spent much time that first year working on this project. I’m not a fundraiser by nature and not particularly gifted at asking people for things. But it nagged at me. No one said it was my problem to solve. But what if…..
Fast forward…in year one I did have a couple of conversations with some local businesses about the bus concept. At that point my co-worker and I had done a little research into some other buses in neighboring counties that had been transformed for other purposes and we were hoping that we might piece together enough funding to do some basic renovations. Although we had some interest, nothing materialized, life and work were busy and the bus project (affectionately known as Project Monkey) fell to the wayside.
the design phase.
In the Fall of 2017, the bus still sat. We knew we needed some help casting a vision and we found a perfect local partner (NOMI Design) who was excited about our crazy idea and willing to jump on board if/when we could secure funding. We found internal funds to help with getting some basic concept designs created and that was the turning point. (Side Note: The power of a visual to keep you moving toward your goal cannot be underestimated.)
Although the project was moving slowly, actually having drawings of the possibilities was exciting and just the tool I needed. As it turns out, though I’m not one who is good at asking for things, I did have a strong relationship with a local organization, the Kloiber Foundation, who had been supporting technology in our schools for the last several years with monetary donations. I had been helping them with their projects and decided to take the leap and ask for something for our own project this time. As luck would have it, armed with drawings and a vision, the stars aligned and the Kloiber Foundation was excited to jump in and fund our bus renovation.
I realize there is more to this story than one blog post can probably handle, so I will save those details for a future post. But as I sit reflecting on December 31, 2019 on the last decade, I can’t help but smile and be amazed at this part of my professional life that has covered the last almost four years. After a long, crazy journey that was full of ups and downs, we unveiled our renovated bus to our school board in January 2018. We did a soft launch in the spring of 2018 and have been rolling full force this school year. Our goal is to visit every elementary school (37 in our district) and to have every 3rd grader on the bus for STEM activities that connect to their 3rd grade standards. As of Dec. 2019, the bus has already been to 23 of our schools and seen almost 2,500 3rd grade students.
There have been many “side effects” of this project that I couldn’t have imagined. I have been able to hire two AMAZING STEM Learning Coaches who have definitely been the key to our success. They deliver instruction both on and off the bus to our students and put in countless early morning hours getting the bus to schools ahead of students. We’ve also already seen one spin-off bus be constructed for another district in our state and others have shown interest in taking our concept and making it work for their area. And most important, the kids are so excited to spend time on the bus and have the opportunity to interact with science, technology, engineering and math in ways they might not have otherwise.
I call that a passion project that has become a reality. So here’s to jumping in to 2020. I don’t know that there are any more buses in my future. Maybe. But I do know that the concept of a passion project isn’t just a wild idea anymore. And it doesn’t have to be “bus-sized.” But life surely is more interesting and motivating when we are pursuing new ideas. It’s time to lean in to the next project, whatever that may be and see where it takes me. The joy is in the journey.
The inside of the bus after being gutted. 
The finished interior of the bus. 
Students at the fossil station with the electronic microscope. 
Students learning about fossils while also programming a Sphero Mini.
shiftedlife.com 