Embark on a Jungle Adventure with Challenge Island’s Afterschool Enrichment: Rainforest Island

Are you ready to delve into the heart of the Amazon rainforest without leaving your school grounds? Grab your survival gear and join us on an exhilarating journey to Rainforest Island, one of Challenge Island’s captivating afterschool enrichment destinations!

Unveiling the Wonders of Rainforest Island: A STEAM Adventure

At Rainforest Island, the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary as young minds explore the lush landscapes and mysterious creatures of the Amazon. Our STEAM teams tackle a jungle of challenges at breathtaking destinations like Jaguar’s Claw, Monkey Swings, and Anaconda Squeeze. Each challenge is crafted to engage, educate, and inspire, weaving together Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math into an immersive experience.

Why Rainforest Island?

Rainforest Island isn’t just a destination; it’s an immersive educational experience that goes beyond traditional afterschool programs. Here’s why your young learner will love the adventure:

  • Hands-On Learning: Engage in interactive challenges that transform complex STEAM concepts into tangible, real-world experiences.
  • Team Collaboration: Navigate the jungle with fellow STEAM teammates, fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork.
  • Creativity Unleashed: Embrace the freedom to imagine, design, and create in an environment that sparks the wildest of imaginations.
  • Critical Thinking: Tackle challenges that require analytical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic decision-making.

Extend the Adventure at Home

But the excitement doesn’t end with the afterschool program. Challenge Island encourages young minds to continue the exploration at home, delving into the pages of “The Race Across Anaconda Swamp” from Challenge Island’s STEAM Adventure Book Series and undertaking hands-on activities inspired by the book. This integration of literature and interactive learning not only enhances comprehension but also ignites a passion for discovery that lasts a lifetime.

Rainforest Island is more than an afterschool program; it’s a gateway to exploration, discovery, and a lifelong love for STEAM. Join us on this unforgettable Amazonian adventure, where education meets excitement, and every challenge is a step deeper into the heart of the rainforest. Ready to swing into action? Rainforest Island awaits!

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Creative At-Home Winter Break Activities with Challenge Island!

As the winter break approaches, parents everywhere are gearing up for the inevitable chorus of, “I’m bored!” Fear not, because Challenge Island and Michelle Paddenburg have come to the rescue with a delightful array of Winter Break Boredom Busters that turn your home into a STEAM-powered wonderland!

🌟 Building Robots and Mini Golf Courses!

In a recent video shared by FOX Carolina, Michelle Paddenburg took center stage to share an assortment of engaging activities that promise to banish winter break boredom. The title alone, “Winter Break Boredom Busters with Challenge Island,” sets the stage for an adventure filled with creativity and innovation.

Link to the Video: Winter Break Boredom Busters with Challenge Island

🤖 Building Robots from Empty Boxes and Plastic Cups: A STEAM-Powered Extravaganza!

The video kicks off with an exciting endeavor – building robots using nothing more than empty boxes and plastic cups. Michelle demonstrates how simple household items can transform into fantastic creations that not only entertain but also engage young minds in the realms of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). The best part? These robots aren’t just fun to build; they come to life with the imaginative stories your child creates for their newfound robotic friends.

Crafting a Mini Golf Course with Household Items: Tee Off for Family Fun!

But the creative journey doesn’t stop there! Michelle guides viewers through the construction of a mini golf course using everyday household items. From repurposed cardboard tubes as tunnels to repurposed plastic containers as tricky obstacles, the mini golf course becomes a canvas for both fun and learning. As families come together to design their courses, they discover the physics behind each putt and the joy of turning their living room into a mini golf adventure.

Why Challenge Island?

Challenge Island’s approach to STEAM education extends beyond the classroom, bringing hands-on learning and creativity directly into your home. Winter break becomes an opportunity for children to explore, innovate, and have fun with activities that not only alleviate boredom but also foster a love for STEAM disciplines.

So, this winter break, trade the winter blues for a palette of colors, creativity, and family fun with Challenge Island’s Winter Break Boredom Busters! 🎨🚀 Let the adventure begin!

Note: Watch the full video here for a front-row seat to the excitement!

Disclaimer: Challenge Island recommends parental supervision during all activities. Always ensure the safety of children during STEAM projects.

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Family Engagement Programs

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Experience the enchantment of Challenge Island’s Family Engagement programs! 🌟 They’re a unique blend of excitement, innovation, creativity, and collaboration that transcends generations, fostering unforgettable family bonding moments. 💫🤝

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Join us for HallowSTEAM!

🎃 Who says learning can’t be hauntingly fun? Join us as we bring the enchantment of HallowSTEAM to your classroom! 🏫🎃

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Roll into the New School Year with Challenge Island Onsite Field Trips!

Back to school and ready for exciting adventures! 🚌🚀 Our award-winning Challenge Island onsite school field trips are back in action! 🎉 Choose from over 100 STEAMtastic standard-aligned themes like our Monster Trucks Arena Forces and Motion field trip, our STEAMwarts Academy States of Matter field trip and our Mechanical Engineer Orange Grove Engineering and Design field trip! Take your class or school on an exhilarating island adventure without ever leaving school grounds!

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

Celebrate our bestselling Challenge Island book, THE BRIDGE TO SHARKTOOTH ISLAND, our new Challenge Island Shark Camp, and Shark Week, by making your own Sharktooth Island shark bait sushi snacks!

WHAT YOU NEED:

  • Gummy Fish Candies
  • Mini Crispy Rice and Marshmallow Treats
  • Green Fruit Rolls
  • Optional Chopsticks

WHAT YOU DO: 

Unwrap the crispy rice treats. (If they are not mini-sized, cut them into bite-sized pieces.) Top each crispy treat with a gummy fish. Cut the fruit roll into strips and wrap the strips around the shark bait sushi. Grab some chopsticks and take a chomp!

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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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Brush Up Math Facts for Back to School with Beach Ball Math!

It’s no secret that school skills slip significantly over the summer. A recent large-scale study by the NWEA showed that students in 3rd to 5th grades lost an average of 27 percent of their school-year gains in math during summer break!

Beat summer brain drain and ensure your child stays on the ball this year in math with this fun, brain-boosting beach ball math game!

WHAT YOU NEED:

  • Beach Ball
  • Permanent Marker
  • Empty Laundry Basket

WHAT YOU DO: 

  1. Write the numbers 1 through 9 in permanent marker on the beach ball. You can repeat numbers that need more practice.
  2. Throw the beach ball to your child and tell them to freeze when they catch the ball.
  3. You child should then add or multiply the two numbers that their thumbs are either touching or closest to touching. If the answer is correct, award 2 points.
  4. A correct answer also earns an opportunity to take a free throw at the laundry basket. If your child makes the shot, award an additional 2 points (or 3 points if they take the shot from farther away).
  5. Have your child keep a tally of their points – or ask them to mentally add their new points each time they earn them.
  6. Celebrate your child’s success and send them back to school feeling smart and confident!

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Challenge Island Named One of 50 Franchise Companies Doing the Most to Champion Diversity by Entrepreneur Magazine

“Around 90% of Challenge Island’s franchisees are women (along with 100% of their corporate team), and they also have a significant number of Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ franchisees, with teachers receiving 10% off the franchise fee. The new Challenge Island book series, cowritten by CEO and founder Sharon Duke Estroff, features Black and Hispanic children as the main characters, and many of the company’s S.T.E.M. challenge themes are designed to celebrate diversity, particularly during Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. “Everything we do is about instilling a sense of inclusion, appreciation, empathy, and compassion in children,” says Estroff. “Diversity is so much a part of Challenge Island that we don’t have to make concentrated efforts to achieve it. It is what we are, through and through.”

Entrepreneur Magazine September 2022

This recognition by Entrepreneur Magazine is among our proudest accomplishments. Not only are we in great company on this list (alongside Ben and Jerry’s and Yum! Brands (KFC, Taco Bell) to name a few) but an adorable photo of diverse Challenge Island kids at work is featured in the article . Read the article HERE.

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