Impact & Results
Building a sustainable STEM ecosystem that bridges Resource, Generational, Accessibility, Awareness, and Financial gaps
Every project at CARAT Lab is designed around one mission: “Bridge the Gap”. We measure our impact by the communities we reach, the barriers we reduce, and the models we create for other teams to replicate.
Bridge the Gap — Impact Ecosystem
Our impact is organized as a STEM Bridge Ecosystem: a student-led structure that connects multiple projects into one shared platform for learning, data, and replication.
- Leadership: Student-led Impact Task Force coordinating projects and data.
- Sustainability: Recurring partnerships and long-term funding plans.
- Replicability: Public “STEM Bridge Hub” with toolkits and templates.
- Quantified Impact: Data dashboard tracking participants, volunteer hours, sponsors, and partners.
Each project addresses a different “gap” that prevents people from accessing STEM: Resource, Generational, Accessibility, Awareness, and Financial.
The Five Bridges of Impact
Each project is mapped to a specific gap and core value to ensure alignment with our mission.
1️⃣ Resource Gap
Focus: Equal access to STEM tools and materials
Core Value: Equity & Accessibility
Key Programs: LEGO & FLL Kit Donation Program, FTC/FRC Hardware Recycling Alliance.
2️⃣ Generational Gap
Focus: Digital literacy and cyber safety for seniors
Core Value: Inclusion & Lifelong Learning
Key Program: Senior STEM “Cyber Bridge” — robotics demos, digital safety, and student–senior mentorship.
2️⃣ Generational Gap
Focus: Digital literacy and cyber safety for seniors
Core Value: Inclusion & Lifelong Learning
Key Program: Senior STEM “Cyber Bridge” — robotics demos, digital safety, and student–senior mentorship.
4️⃣ Awareness Gap
Focus: Spreading FIRST and STEM culture
Core Value: Inspiration & Collaboration
Key Projects: LEGO Workshops @ RoboPlanet, Library STEM Series, Mall Promotion & LEGO Drive, School Outreach & FLL Mentoring.
5️⃣ Financial Gap
Focus: Sustainable funding to keep STEM open to all
Core Value: Sustainability & Partnership
Key Program: Sponsor & Funding Support Line — supporting FLL registrations, outreach events, and STEM Bridge Grants.
Conclusion: All activities align with our “Bridge the Gap” mission by addressing financial, educational, social, and physical barriers — building one connected, inclusive STEM ecosystem.
Impact Snapshot
The STEM Bridge Ecosystem tracks both current season targets and multi-year reach. Below is a summary of our planned impact.
Community Impact & Reach — 2025 Targets
| Target Group | Estimated Reach (2025) |
|---|---|
| Students (K–12) | 500+ |
| Families / Parents | 40+ |
| Seniors | 30+ |
| Special Needs Students | 20+ |
| FLL Members | 60+ |
| Sponsors / Partners | 10+ |
| Partner Institutions (Schools, Libraries, Centers) | 8+ |
| Total Estimated Reach (2025) | ≈ 800+ People |
Expected Reach by End of 2026
Combining local, cross-country, and global efforts across all five Bridges of Impact.
| Community Group | 2025 | 2026 (Projected) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students (K–12) | 500 | 800 | 1300 |
| Families / Parents | 40 | 100 | 140 |
| Seniors | 30 | 200 | 230 |
| Special Needs Students | 20 | 50 | 70 |
| FLL Members | 60 | 100 | 160 |
| Sponsors / Partners | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| International Collaborators | 0 | 10+ teams | 10+ teams |
| Total Reach | ≈ 800+ | ≈ 1,500+ | ≈ 2,300+ |
These numbers include direct participants, families, partners, and international teams connected through the STEM Bridge Hub.
STEM Bridge Hub (2025–2026 Global Platform)
The STEM Bridge Hub is our global repository where projects, toolkits, videos, and impact data are stored and shared with other teams.
| Module | 2025 Content | 2026 Expansion |
|---|---|---|
| Project Toolkits | 10+ ready-to-use guides | Add cross-country co-created kits |
| Video Library | Local workshops (bilingual) | Add subtitled global sessions |
| Impact Dashboard | Track local & cross-country reach | Integrate international data |
| Partner Network | Schools, libraries, senior homes | Include overseas FIRST partners |
| Annual Impact Report | 2025 summary (PDF + infographics) | 2026 combined local–global edition |
All toolkits are released under CC-BY license and include a “One-Page Quick Start” so other teams can plug into the ecosystem quickly.
STEM Bridge Hub — Structure & Ownership
Platform Type: Google Site + Google Drive + YouTube Channel | Launch Target: December 15, 2025 (MVP)
| Module | Content | Owner | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 📁 Project Toolkits | Activity kits, templates, MOU forms, lesson plans | Linda | Monthly |
| 🎥 Video Library | Teaching + community videos with bilingual subtitles | Kurt | Monthly |
| 📊 Impact Dashboard | Reach, volunteer hours, sponsorship, media data | Katherine | Weekly |
| 🤝 Partner Network | Schools, libraries, sponsors, organizations | Anita | Quarterly |
| 🧾 Event Reports | Standard 2-page event summary forms | Jason | Post-activity |
| 📚 Annual Impact Report | Season summary + infographics | Jason | Year-end |
Replication Policy: all toolkits are CC-BY, and every toolkit includes a One-Page Quick Start to make it easy for new teams to reuse and adapt.
Execution Timeline — 2025 Season
| Phase | Timeframe | Key Milestones |
|---|---|---|
| Initiation | Oct 8 – Oct 31 | Partnerships confirmed, KPIs set, templates drafted |
| Execution | Nov 1 – Dec 14 | Events launched, data tracking in progress across all five Bridges |
| Delivery | Dec 15 – Dec 31 | STEM Bridge Hub MVP launch, reports archived, impact summary published |
From 2026 onward, the same cycle is repeated with expanded cross-country partnerships and international replication.
Impact Ecosystem Tree (Text Version)
Impact Mission: “Bridge the Gap”
Core Platform: STEM Bridge Ecosystem
→ Leadership (Student-led)
→ Sustainability (Partnerships & Funding)
→ Replicability (STEM Bridge Hub)
→ Quantified Impact (Dashboard)
[1] Bridging the Resource Gap
→ LEGO / FLL Kit Donation Program (2025)
→ FTC / FRC Hardware Recycling (2026)
[2] Bridging the Generational Gap
→ Senior STEM “Cyber Bridge” Project
[3] Bridging the Accessibility Gap
→ Disability Organization STEM Day
[4] Bridging the Awareness Gap
→ LEGO Workshop @ RoboPlanet
→ Library Workshops
→ Shopping Mall Promotion & LEGO Drive
→ School Outreach & FLL Mentoring
[5] Bridging the Financial Gap
→ Sponsor & Funding Support Line
Community Reach 2025–2026
→ 300+ Students
→ 140+ Families
→ 230+ Seniors
→ 70+ Special Needs Students
→ 160 FLL Members
→ 30 Sponsors & Partners
→ 10+ International Collaborator Teams