Challenge Island - Oakland County East

Challenge Island is a project-based, cross-curricular, S.T.E.A.M program aligned with NGSS, CC, ELA, as well as Social/Emotional Learning standards. We are not bricks or bots, nor do we use screen time; we are a face-to-face, fun, collaborative workshop that is different from most.  Using these standards, we provide a creative space for children to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to complete S.T.E.A.M.-based challenges.

Our curriculum is unique because the students work together in playful tribes to complete a project that demonstrates one or more S.T.E.A.M concepts. The hands-on opportunities made available in Challenge Island ignite curiosity and spark learning by letting the students experiment in real-world situations, even for students who do not think of themselves as “math or science kids.” 

• The Challenge Island Totem Pole (a.k.a. The Engineering Process) is the backbone of every single Challenge Island Class. 
• While working in their tribes to create and solve pop-culture themed challenges, students apply engineering principles.
• In additional to S.T.E.A.M. principles, each session also works across the curriculum to teach kids about topics like geography, history, architecture, literature, nature, and more.
• All challenges emphasize valuable skills such as collaboration, communication, critical & creative thinking, flexibility, leadership, initiative, social skills & grit. 
• Both the left & right sides of the brain are utilized, and creative thinking is encouraged and celebrated.

Our whimsical, creativity-based curriculum inspires both girls and boys to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Girls especially love our creative programs, and the Girl Scouts are also partnering with Challenge Island for badge workshops.

We offer programs from 1-3 hours in length, available as in-school field trips and after-school enrichment classes as well as holiday, school break, and summer camps; these are targeted primarily towards ages 4-14.  Our “Challenge Island Junior” programs (Preschool and K) are child-driven and they adapt accordingly to the natural development of age-specific needs.  We also have a fun-filled parent night program where families team up as a tribal team, challenging the other teams to a S.T.E.A.M based evening as each tribe member thinks critically and takes pride in their part in this teambuilding project.  Other opportunities include “S.T.E.A.M-building” sessions for corporate groups, birthday parties, homeschooling sessions, interactive activities for senior centers, and more.

Please feel free to contact us for more information, or to line up an opportunity to bring Challenge Island to your location!