Newton's Attic

 

Newton’s Attic Mission &
amp;Organizational Backgr

oundNewton’s Attic is a highly unusual physics and engineering educati
onalnon-profit founded by professional mechanical engineer and former high sc
hoolphysics teacher Bill Cloyd. Rooted in Cloyd’s long-standing passion
fordesigning and fabricating large, imaginative mechanical constructs
thatsimultaneously showcase physics principles and daredevil human feats,
theorganization brings an innovative spirit to STEM education. Early creat
ionssuch as an 80-foot tower with a circus net and tennis-ball cannon
fordemonstrating free-fall, and a 40-foot trajectory “lake launcher” use
d byLexington-area physics teachers, helped shape the creative ethos that Newt
on’sAttic embodies to

day.Established in response to the limitations of the traditional class
roomand the need for engaging STEM resources, Newton’s Attic was created to o
fferstudents a highly interactive, play-based approach to learning physics
andengineering. The organization has since developed a vast library of prog
ramsthat immerse students in hands-on design, fabrication, and field testin
g oftheir own mechanical devices—often in energized, competitive, and hi
ghlymotivating environme

nts.The overarching mission of Newton’s Attic is to make learning
andteaching math, science, and engineering enjoyable, exciting, and de
eplyaccessible. By creating unusual educational resources and experiences
thatstimulate imagination, creativity, and curiosity, Newton’s Attic demonstr
atesthat technical knowledge can not only empower individuals to pursue their g
oalsand dreams, but can also be offbeat, entertaining, and

fun.The acquisition of a five-acre facility in May 2012 enabled Newt
on’sAttic to expand its offerings to include after-school programs, homesc
hoolservices, field trips, Scout workshops, internships, and a continually gro
wingselection of school-break day camps. Today, the organization provides more
than50 unique programs spanning robotics, coding, mechanical and electr
icalsystems, and aerospace engineering. These programs serve school distri
cts,community groups, and families throughout Kentucky, and even attract sch
oolsfrom as far away as Color

ado.In 2018, Newton’s Attic further expanded by acquiring 169 acre
s inWolfe County, just beyond the Red River Gorge. This location is now b
eingdeveloped into a destination for engineering-based adventure programs desi
gnedfor both youth and adu

lts.Serving thousands of students annually, Newton’s Attic also engage
s inextensive community outreach through schools, libraries, science centers,
andcommunity organizations across Central Kentucky and beyond. Since
itsinception, the organization has partnered with universities and a wide rang
e ofservice groups, and it continues to support teachers by providing tools
andresources that elevate STEM education statew

ide.As founder, Cloyd brings professional expertise as a licensed mechan
icalengineer and owner of Mark IV, Incorporated, an engineering consulting f
irm.His background informs the organization’s creativity, safety standards,
andtechnical rigor, but Newton’s Attic stands today as a respected, indepen
dentcommunity resource for students, educators, and families seeking excepti
onalSTEM learning experien

ces.One of Newton’s Attic’s newest and fastest-gro
winginitiatives is the Robot Gladiator Le
ague(RGL), a statewide robotics and engineering competition that
usesimmersive gladiatorial robot battles to teach advanced mechanical, electri
cal,and coding skills. Now entering Se
asonIII, RGL serves 24 high sc
hooland college teams across 18 Kentucky counties, providing a uniq
uelyengaging workforce-development pipeline that blends engineering, teamwork,
andhigh-energy competition. The program has quickly become a flagship offer
ing,attracting school districts, colleges, and community partners eager to b
uildhands-on STEM capac

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