The Ozarks STEAM Ecosystem

TODAY is National Peanut Day
on September 13th
celebrates a legume — not a nut, botanically speaking — that originated in South America over 7,000 years ago, traveled to Africa with the Portuguese, crossed the Atlantic with the slave trade, and became one of the foundational crops of the American South. It is also the source of one of the most consumed foods in the United States, a product so ubiquitous that its absence from school cafeterias has required policy intervention, and a flavor so deeply embedded in American food culture that entire generations have grown up believing it is fundamental to the human diet. The peanut is not a nut, was not invented by the person most credited with it, and has been in the Americas for seven thousand years. Everything you thought you knew is more interesting on second look.

STEM Learning Ecosystems

Friends you must try the FREE Merlin Bird identification app. It’s so interesting to see what birds identified by their sounds. It also saves your lists.
In nature. The Ozarks STEAM Ecosystem is always looking for interesting information.

What a GREAT HONOR!!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1502409645248253&id=100064376966043

Central High School and Holland Elementary School have been recognized as 2026 Missouri Green Schools Honorees for their commitment to school sustainability.🌱🚰♻️ Learn more about this honor and the Show-Me Green Schools program at https://bit.ly/4yf91sn.

What a GREAT opportunity!!

The updated NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars student challenge is here!👏👏👏

Read about this opportunity for students to learn about NASA & its missions, engage with experts, & explore aerospace jobs while competing for monetary awards: https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/linking-community-college-studies-to-aerospace-careers/

🍂 We officially open this Week for the Fall Season 🍂

September- Mid October
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays
9am-2pm

Friday we kick off our Fall Fridays!
This Friday only 30% off
🌸Fame Flower
🌼Annuals
🌳Buttonbush
🌳Oaks

**Fall Friday specials are available on Fridays only, while supplies last. Featured species will change each week.**

Great opportunity!

Let the hacking, begin! Join us for Taps & Hacks a ‘Capture the Flag’ threat hunting experience hosted by Corelight, DTG | Cybersecurity & IT Solutions Provider, and Springfield Tech Council on Thursday, September 17 from 2-5pm. Drinks, food and a friendly hunt will be held at Mother's Brewery.

Put your threat hunting skills to the test and compete head-to-head with your peers in this hands-on simulation. You’ll face dozens of security challenges using Corelight Zeek, simulating real-world incident response and hunting query scenarios. Corelight experts will be on hand to guide players of all skill levels.

Play to win some cool prizes and play to learn!
1st place - Nintendo Switch 2
2nd place - Outlin Espresso Machine
3rd place - $100 Amazon gift card

Bonus: 2 CPE credits available

Free for both members and non-members of STC. Please note, this is not a student-focused event.

Learn more and find the Corelight/DTG Registration Link here: https://sgftechcouncil.com/tech-events-calendar/september-2026-capture-the-flag-corelight-dtg-stc

Woohoo!

Central High School and Holland Elementary School have been recognized as 2026 Missouri Green Schools Honorees for their commitment to school sustainability.🌱🚰♻️ Learn more about this honor and the Show-Me Green Schools program at https://bit.ly/4yf91sn.

What are your thoughts ?

🦣 ICE AGE DEBATE TIME! ❄️

We need YOUR help settling an important prehistoric question...

Which Ice Age creature would you most want to meet?

🦣 AMKA—the enormous woolly mammoth
🐆 TULOKE—the saber-toothed cat with powerful fangs
🦥 UKI—the gentle giant ground sloth
🐢 KIRIAM—the heavily armored glyptodont

Each animal had unique features that helped it survive in a changing and challenging environment.

Would you choose:

💪 Strength?
⚡ Speed?
🛡️ Armor?
🦣 Enormous size?

Drop your answer in the comments and tell us WHY! 👇

Then come meet the entire Ice Age family at Ice Age Encounters!

We like to welcome a new Partner for The Ozarks STEAM Ecosystem . If you’re looking for a convenient, clean, climate controlled storage facility you can’t beat them.
Right at the corner of S. Campbell and Weaver. They have been wonderful working with!