What is Contrapt Wisconsin?

Contrapt Wisconsin is STEM Forward’s engaging middle school contraption competition. A contraption accomplishes a simple task in the most complicated, fun way possible. Building one can be challenging, but it allows students to develop skills in engineering, simple machines, trial-and-error, project planning, physics, teamwork, and creativity. Our competition enables students to showcase their talents to their peers and our judges, and gives them the chance to earn awards. If you have any questions, please contact Rich Merkel at rmerkel@stemforward.org.

What did Past Participants Have to Say?

Students shared that participating in Future City and Contrapt Wisconsin created memorable and rewarding experiences while helping them grow academically and personally. Through these programs, students strengthened communication, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving skills, while also building confidence—especially in public speaking and presenting.

Many students said the competitions sparked a deeper interest in STEM and engineering careers, helped them understand the engineering design process, and opened their eyes to real-world challenges such as environmental sustainability and climate change. The experience also encouraged creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, while allowing students to form new friendships.

Overall, the programs made STEM fun, engaging, and meaningful, inspiring students to explore future careers and realize their potential to solve real-world problems.

Looking for inspiration to introduce the Contrapt Competition in the classroom? Check out the "Action Contraption" activity in Discover Engineering's resource library—it's a great way to get kids excited and engaged!

Sponsors Needed!

STEM Forward is seeking corporate sponsors to support our spring engineering competitions and help inspire the next generation of STEM talent. Your sponsorship provides students with hands-on opportunities to develop critical skills in creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation through programs such as Future City, Contrapt Wisconsin, and the Engineering Machine Design Contest. These impactful experiences would not be possible without the support of industry partners committed to strengthening southeastern Wisconsin’s future workforce. Join us in investing in tomorrow’s engineers, scientists, and innovators while demonstrating your organization's commitment to STEM education and talent development.