Hoboken ‘Rocket Club’ Aims To Fill Gap In Youth STEM Programs

HOBOKEN, NJ — A pair of New Jersey real estate developers saw a gap in STEM programs. They wanted to build a club for kids that was fun and interesting.

And that’s how the Hoboken Rocket Club took off.

Last week, the after-school club for kids launched enrollment for its inaugural semester. The club, aimed at youth 9 to 14-years old, teaches robotics, coding and entrepreneurship, according to a news release from its founders.

Rocket Club is the brainchild of owner Alex Hodara, a Forbes “30 Under 30” recipient, and Paulo Nunes, the organization’s director, who noticed a disparity in the lack of after school STEM focused programs but an increase in STEM-related jobs.

Hodara and Nunes said they wanted to open the club in a “forward-thinking community like Hoboken” and in proximity to Stevens Institute of Technology.

“We set out to create a program and opportunities that we wished existed when we were kids,” Hodara said. “The skill set our members will develop will lead to innovations we cannot yet fathom, and to me that’s the most exciting part.”

Hodara said that he believes so strongly in the curriculum that he’s offering $10,000 in seed money to three club finalists to pursue a robotic-based business they develop as part of the program (see flyer below).

The club’s advisors and mentors, who also consulted on the club’s curriculum, include a pedigree of 13 company founders, nine Forbes “30 Under 30” recipients, four FIRST & VEX Robotics Alumni, a NASA engineer, and three VR/AR Unity experts.

Level 1’s curriculum sees members building and coding custom Mars Rovers, robotic arms, cranes, and race cars for competitions. At semester’s end, members develop a robotic product and a theoretical business campaign for a “Shark Tank” styled competition. The three Forbes 30 Under 30 judges, who are also accomplished founders of their own companies, will review the members’ brand strategies, marketing plans and financial projections.

According to its founders, Rocket Club’s workshop design is inspired by legendary Silicon Valley companies’ garages like Apple and Microsoft. Every child’s work station comes complete with a laptop, Lego MINDSTORM EV3 kits, AR/VR equipment and access to a 3D printer.

Classes begin on Feb. 25 and last 17 weeks. To apply, parents and students must first book a tour online at OfficialRocketClub.com. Rocket Club is located at 720 Monroe St. Suite C413, Hoboken.

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Photo: Rocket Club Hoboken