Welcome to the World's #1 STEAM Program

Where Engineering Meets Imagination©

Challenge Island® is the Official Home of STEAMbuilding® and STEAM Teams®
The Challenge Island Difference

Our Results Show in Our Awards

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Palm Tree Pillars

The Foundational Pillars of our Program that Make Challenge Island the Go-To Choice for Millions of Parents and Educators

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STEM + ART = STEAM

"To develop a complete mind, study the science of art; study the art of science; realize that everything connects to everything else." - Leonardo DaVinci

21st Century Skills

We foster the fundamental skills kids need to thrive today and tomorrow including creativity, collaboration, communication, flexibility and leadership.

Higher Level Thinking Skills

Our programs promote deep, critical, analytical and creative thinking abilities in kids which help ensure their long-term academic and professional success.

Project Based Learning

Our STEAM Teams® engage in collaborative, inquiry-based, student-driven learning grounded in real world connections and meaningful problem-solving.

Island Destinations

Whimsical island ambience combined with cross-curricular themes make the Challenge Island experience an unforgettable adventure.

Social-Emotional Learning

We foster the social and emotional intelligence children need to form healthy relationships, make positive choices and find fulfillment in life.

Resilience

Research shows that a Challenge-Island-palm-tree-like ability to be flexible and strong through life’s ”storms” is far more essential to future success than IQ.

Steam Teams

No child is an island which is why kids tackle our hundreds of proprietary challenges by combining their strengths with those of a STEAM Team of friends.

Screen Free Fun

Our programs provide digital native kids the precious opportunity to connect with their peers face-to-face and discover the wonders of the world, undeterred by devices.

"One thing that makes Challenge Island a standout is what it lacks. You’ll find no screens or digital devices in a Challenge Island after-school class, camp or family night. Instead, kids working together in STEAM Teams, are encouraged to use imagination, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to come up with creative solutions to challenges using a treasure-chest full of low-tech supplies."

ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE

Award-Winning STEAM Programs



Hi, We're Don & Kelly Wix

The Dynamic Duo Behind Challenge Island St. Pete.

Hello I am Kelly Wix, a veteran educator of 30 years who spent the last 20 years as a principal, certified in the state of Florida, for various start-up programs, with a focus on alternative education. My passion for project-based learning in education has led to my strong beliefs that STEM/STEAM can best prepare our children for the 21st Century world. My husband, Don, is a retired helicopter pilot, having proudly served in the US Army for twenty-three years. Having been assigned to numerous positions in special operation units as well as government management and acquisition. Don retired from the Army in 2010 and went on to work with such companies as Lockheed Martin and Vertex Aerospace. Currently, he continues to consult in the defense industry through his company, Innovative Defense Solutions, LLC.

Over the years, my husband has witnessed, and participated in my passion for education, whether it's building shelves for the classrooms, feeding school animals, or speaking engagements with students on his career in the Army, he too can appreciate the need for alternative forms of education for the students of the 21st Century. So, in August 2021, when he found the Challenge Island franchise, he knew it would be a perfect fit for me, and for us as a couple.

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STEAM + Reading = STREAM!

Combine the Magic of Challenge Island Programs with the Magic of Reading with our Bestselling Book Series!

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The Power of Cross-Curricular Learning with Challenge Island Programs

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Elevate After-School Enrichment with Challenge Island: Don’t Miss Out on Next Year’s Lineup!

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Screen-Free Summer Learning & Fun with Challenge Island

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Challenge Island Secures Prestigious Spot on Franchise 500 for the 7th Consecutive Year

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Make Sharktooth Island Shark Bait Sushi Snacks to Celebrate Our Bestselling Book Series and Shark Camp!

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Challenge Island is Included on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 for the 6th Year in a Row!

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Challenge Island Featured in IFA Oscar Ad During the 2023 Academy Awards!

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Challenge Island is Included on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 for the 6th Year in a Row!

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Challenge Island Ranks #188 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Global Franchises List

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Ride the Wave of Excitement with Challenge Island’s Sports-Themed Field Trips

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