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CrunchLabs Is Making STEM Cool Again—Here’s How
You’ve probably seen one of Mark Rober’s viral YouTube videos—the glitter bomb for package thieves, the squirrel obstacle course, or the world’s largest Nerf gun. What you might not know is that he’s also behind CrunchLabs.com, a monthly subscription box that teaches kids (and curious adults) how to think like engineers.
Not in the "sit down and do your homework" way. This is hands-on, build-it-yourself stuff. It’s messy, clever, and addictive in the best way.
So, What Is CrunchLabs?
CrunchLabs is basically a STEM playground delivered to your door. Every month, you get a box filled with all the parts to build something like a working catapult, a spinning frisbee launcher, or even a robotic turret. You also get access to an exclusive video hosted by Rober, where he breaks down the engineering behind the build and tells you why it matters.
It’s not just a kit. It’s a story, a challenge, and a mini-engineering class—all in one.
There are two versions:
- Build Box is mostly mechanical projects—gears, levers, physics.
- Hack Pack dives deeper with mechatronics—think robotics meets coding.
Both are designed to make you curious and a little obsessed with figuring things out.
Built by a NASA Engineer Who Actually Knows How to Teach
That’s a big deal. Mark Rober spent nine years at NASA working on stuff like the Mars rover. He could’ve taken the typical route—write a book, give some TED talks, retire into consulting. Instead, he turned STEM education into entertainment and made it fun without watering it down.
His approach works because he treats kids like real engineers. There’s no “dumbed down” version. He just explains things in a way that clicks—often using humor, storytelling, and wild analogies. One moment he’s talking about torque, the next he’s launching a frisbee at 60 mph from a backyard contraption.
The videos aren’t optional fluff. They’re part of the learning. You’re not just following instructions—you’re thinking critically while building something that actually does something.
Why It Works
Here’s the thing: most STEM toys are either too simplistic or too complicated. CrunchLabs finds the sweet spot. You get quality materials, clear visual instructions (no dense manuals), and just enough ambiguity to make you solve a few problems on your own.
That last part is key. These boxes aren’t about following a recipe. They’re designed to trip you up a little—because that’s how real engineering works. Get stuck. Try again. Hack it. It’s way more satisfying than passively watching a screen.
And if you’ve ever tried to teach a kid something, you know attention spans are gold. CrunchLabs doesn’t fight for their focus—it earns it. The builds are just that engaging.
Real Projects, Not Toy Versions
Here’s an example: one of the kits includes a turret that actually tracks and aims using motion sensors. That’s not a toy. That’s entry-level robotics. Another project teaches angular momentum using a spinning disc, which is the same principle behind gyroscopes in aircraft.
It’s not about memorizing definitions. It’s about building something, watching it move, and having that “wait—that’s how it works?” moment.
STEM Without the Eye Rolls
Let’s be real—“STEM learning” can sound like something you’re supposed to care about. CrunchLabs makes it something kids want to do. It’s the difference between being told to eat vegetables and discovering that grilled broccoli actually tastes amazing.
This isn’t about raising the next Elon Musk. It’s about getting kids to enjoy solving problems. To take things apart. To ask better questions. That’s way more valuable than a perfect test score.
It’s Bigger Than a Box
CrunchLabs is turning into a full-blown ecosystem. There’s Camp CrunchLabs, where kids work in teams to build more ambitious projects over the summer. It’s like engineering summer camp, but with a cooler vibe.
They’ve also launched globally—including places like Australia—so it’s not just a U.S. thing anymore.
And then there’s Space Selfie—a collab where people can literally send a selfie into space. It’s absurd, fun, and wildly aspirational—exactly the kind of project that sticks in your brain for life.
Community, Not Just Customers
There’s a growing CrunchLabs community online, too. Parents and kids are posting their builds, swapping ideas, and sharing how they hacked the designs. It’s less “customer support forum,” more “DIY hacker’s club.” Rober and the team jump in with challenges and extra content to keep it going.
Check out the Instagram or YouTube channel—it’s packed with builds, experiments, and weird engineering stunts. Over 1.8 million people follow the CrunchLabs YouTube channel alone, which tells you how big the reach is.
Reviews That Actually Say Something
This isn’t just buzz. On Trustpilot, CrunchLabs holds a solid 4.3 out of 5, with real praise from parents who’ve seen their kids go from screen zombies to mini inventors.
The reviews are full of stories like, “My kid watched the video three times before starting the build,” or “She figured out how to tweak the design and made it better.” That’s rare. And it’s exactly what good STEM learning should do.
CrunchLabs Isn’t Slowing Down
This isn’t a one-hit-wonder. CrunchLabs is still pushing forward, with more advanced kits, new tech integrations, and possible AR-enhanced builds in the works. There’s also talk of creating a platform where kids can share their own inventions—a kind of open-source CrunchLabs playground.
They’re not just making stuff to sell boxes. They’re building a mindset. A community. A culture where it’s cool to be curious and gutsy enough to build something from scratch.
Bottom Line
CrunchLabs doesn’t just teach STEM. It shows what it feels like to be an engineer. The “aha” moment when your project finally works. The frustration that turns into pride when you fix a mistake. The satisfaction of building something that moves because you made it.
It’s the kind of thing that can quietly change a kid’s life trajectory.
Not every box will launch a future rocket scientist. But every one of them shows that solving problems is fun. And that’s the real win.
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