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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 helps 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 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
Onsite Field Trips
Our standard-aligned, cross-curricular K-12 field trips take students on a STEAMtastic island adventure without ever leaving school grounds.
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Camps
When school is out, STEAM is in! Our outrageously exciting camps feel like vacations in their own right!
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After School Enrichment
Our STEAM teams visit different island destinations each week and tackle challenges using only materials in their treasure chests and their boundless imaginations.
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Girl Scout Workshops
Our wide array of badge and journey workshops for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes come with a Challenge Island Fun Patch for every girl!
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Birthday Parties
Don’t just have a party, have an ISLAND party! Choose from our epic STEAM themes or design one of your very own.
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Family Engagement Programs
Our multi-generational family engagement events turn families into STEAM Teams as they work together to take on family-size challenges and fun.
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STEAMbuilding® & Special Events
Our signature team-building experiences inspire collaboration, critical thinking and creativity in all kinds of teams – from kid to corporate!
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Virtual Programs
Anything we can do in person we can do virtually! In fact, we were voted a TOP 3 virtual program in the USA by Business Insider.
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Hi, I’m Anne!
Owner of Challenge Island Summit-Medina
My name is Anne Vaughan and I am the owner of Challenge Island in the Summit and Medina county regions. My husband and I live in West Akron and are parents to 2 University aged children. I am thrilled to be bringing Challenge Island to North East Ohio! While relatively new to the area, through many in-school field trips, summer camps, and Girl Scout workshops we have already seen how much children love the program and how well it reinforces their school curriculum. As important as it is to develop STEM skills it is equally important to give kids the opportunity to learn and demonstrate the softer skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, creativity, and communication. Helping to build this well-rounded student is what I am passionate about.
Hope to see you and your children at a Challenge Island event soon!
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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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HIGHLIGHT
Challenge Island Ranked #115 on Entrepreneur’s Fastest Growing Franchises, Featured in Full Page Spotlight in Entrepreneur Magazine’s March 2022 Issue
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We loved having the opportunity of a virtual stem field trip for our students. The lunar landers were perfect for all ages! It was very educational and interactive. Challenge Island was so easy to work with and coordinated everything.
PTA President
"My remote classroom loved the challenge from Challenge Island! It was great to see them thinking creatively and exploring solutions!"
Fourth grade teacher
"My son is in kindergarten and participated in one of the 2-day camps over winter break. He loved it! The activities were open-ended and required him to use creativity and imagination. He was able to make the activities his own and was able to share his ideas with the instructor and other students. This program is great, and I was so impressed to see my son’s thought process & creativity grow throughout the classes."
Challenge Island Parent
“In Challenge Island, we learned how to creatively approach problems, rather than using the rote methods that are often emphasized in elementary school. When I started college, I found myself using the skills I learned at Challenge Island far more than anything I learned in high school. Today, in my quantitative work on disease, I still constantly use the problem solving strategies I learned through Challenge Island.”
Former Challenge Island Student
“One thing that makes Challenge Island stand out from the competition is what it lacks. You’ll find no screens or digital devices in a Challenge Island program. 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