Reggie - Thank you and No Worries! I too grew up without much of a male role model. Single mom, school teacher, two kids, working 2-3 jobs so we could have food on the table and clothes on our backs. First pair of name brand shoes were in the 9th grade and they were football cleats, first pair of Levi's blue jeans didn't happen until I was in the 11th grade (had been Sear's Rustler jeans before that). I was self taught in many things out of necessity. That said I feel I am better for it - drive, work ethic, desire to figure out the why and how, etc. If I wanted something I had to go and get it, nothing was handed to me. Learned to jump into things with both feet and by fully committed.
Didn't have a model of how to be a good dad, but I certainly learned many things NOT to do to as a father. I try to get my boys outside working in the yard on projects and building things in the shop as often as I can so they can learn how to work with their hands, use different tools, soundly/correctly build things, how and why things work together, etc. Also try to get them outdoors hunting, fishing, exploring, etc. as I didn't have many of those experiences until after I was in college.
The STEM programs are AWESOME, it helps get kids thinking outside the box, challenges them, and gives them the chance to learn things the would have otherwise had the chance to do.