We race across Texas to deliver hair-raising experiences in science.
TAME's Trailblazers are fully loaded science museums-on-wheels that are ready to drive across Texas to your school, library, or special event. With five hands-on, student-inspiring content areas: Aerodynamics, Biotechnology, Energy, Space and Weather, the Trailblazers showcase STEM fields critical to the planet's future and packed with information about career opportunities for the next generation.
Trailblazer Introduction Trailblazer Overview Students Explore Museum on Wheels Austin Engineering and Science Festival Trailblazer Trailer visits Deleon Middle School Trailblazer Trailer visits Cannon Elementary Trailblazer on ABC News
"On behalf of our faculty and students I would like to thank you and the members of your organization for the Trailblazer visit... Our students had a blast!!! I am confident that the exhibit was a powerful tool in making our students aware of the importance of engineering and its practical applications. It’s always good for students to realize how cool science actually is."
-- Gene Beyer, Science Coordinator, McMullen County ISD
Exhibits are mapped to science TEKS for grades 3rd-8th, and teachers receive pre-visit activities and follow-up materials to sustain student interest long after the Trailblazer drives off campus. Each Trailblazer, housed in a 40-foot trailer can accommodate 30 students at a time. Students take at least 35-45 minutes per group, and about 200 students can visit each trailer per day. The hosting organization provides a minimum of five volunteers. A TAME Trailblazer Facilitator delivers the Trailblazer and trains volunteers. Educators are provided with follow-up materials.
TAME Trailblazer Program Overview
Trailblazer Program Requirements
For scheduling and cost information, please contact the Trailblazer Program Coordinator at trailblazer@tame.org or at (512) 471 6100. Please provide the location of your school or event and the requested time frame, if available.
2018 Science Rocks! Summer Trailblazer Visits Sponsored by Tocker Foundation
Grant Applications are open now!
Follow-up Materials for Home and Classroom
TAME provides host schools, libraries, and organizations with digital follow-up curriculum for educators to use in the classroom. In 2016, TAME received funding from partner Shell Oil Company to provide take-home bookmarks for students to share with friends and family. Each bookmark corresponds to one of the five different concept areas (Aerodynamics, Biotechnology/Medicine, Energy, Space, and Weather), highlights a STEM career, and shares a simple hands-on science activity to try at home.
Students are also encouraged to visit TAME.org/Play to explore in-depth science, play STEM games, view immersive 360° Virtual Reality videos, try engineering projects, and learn more about the Grand Challenges of engineering that humanity will face in the next 100 years.
Trailblazer Testimonials
"To say that our 200+ fifth graders here at E. S. Richardson Elementary enjoyed the TAME mobile science lab would be an understatement. What a wonderful concept, a traveling field trip that comes to us. The benefits our children received are just too numerous to list, but the exposure to so many science concepts that were hands on made their time out of the classroom worthwhile. Anyone within a mile of our school probably wondered 'what in the world was going on.' Fun and excitement and all about science. Thank you again."
-- Ms. Oreata M. Banks and the Richardson students & staff
TAME works hard to keep both Trailblazer mobile STEM museums up-to-date. We focus on exhibits that feature hands-on science and provide scripts to help volunteers talk with students about career opportunities. The exhibits are sorted into five different concept areas: Aerodynamics, Biotechnology/Medicine, Energy, Space, and Weather.
See below for more information on some of our past and present exhibits that make a Trailblazer visit an experience to remember.
Exhibit Area: Aerodynamics
- Concepts: Bernoulli’s Principle, Aerodynamic Shapes, Turbulence, Civil Engineering
- Trailblazer I: Wind Tunnels, Turbulence Interactives, Bernoulli’s Principle, Videos
- Trailblazer II: Wind Tunnels, Airfoil Interactive, Paper Airplanes, Bernoulli’s Principle, Videos
Exhibit Area: Bio Technology/Medicine
- Concepts: Pathogens, Bones, Body Temperature, X-Rays, Robotics & Surgery, Genetics
- Trailblazer I: Stethoscope, Pulse Oximeter, MRI, CT Scans, X-Rays, Microscopes, Digital Thermometer
- Trailblazer II: Robotic Surgery, Chromatography, Genetic Mutation, Hi-Def Microscope, Videos
Exhibit Area: Energy
- Concepts: Conservation, transformation and transmission of energy, power generation, alternative energy sources
- Trailblazer I: Hand crank generator for Wind Generator, Energy Sticks, Van de Graaff Generator, Radiometer, Solar cell, Videos
- Trailblazer II: Bicycle wheel generator for Energy Bicycle, Energy Sticks, Insulation, Radiometer, Solar Energy, Wind Generator, Videos
Exhibit Area: Space
- Concepts: Space flight, gravity, propulsion, working in space, impact of solar activity on earth, NASA products in everyday life
- Trailblazer I: Rescue the Satellite Robotic Arm, Relative Gravity Demonstration, Videos
- Trailblazer II: Thermal Imaging, How Much Does It Weigh? Gravity Demonstration, Solar Flare, Videos
Exhibit Area: Weather
- Concepts: Weather forecasting, predictive technology, science of tornadoes, lightning and electricity
- Trailblazer I: Green Screen Weather Forecasting, Tornado Tube, Weather Station, Plasma Ball, Videos
- Trailblazer II: Green Screen Weather Forecasting, Tornado Tube, Paleoclimatology, Weather Station, Plasma Ball, Van de Graaff Generator, Videos
Downloadable Materials
Download an overview and a customizable poster to help advertise Trailblazer visits which are open to the public:
 TAME Trailblazer Overview |
 TAME Trailblazer Public Event Poster |
For more information about our past or future Trailblazer visits, or to learn more about how you can help sponsor visits and Family STEM Events, please contact our TAME State Office.
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