Challenger Learning Center Home

Inspire, Explore, Learn... It's Our Mission 

Welcome to the Challenger Learning Center!

Please note that we are exclusively open to schools, organizations, and homeschool groups for full-day STEM experiences. Thank you for understanding we do not offer tours to the general public. Our focus is on providing immersive educational programs for students in grades 5-8 and summer programs for grades K-8. We look forward to inspiring young minds through hands-on STEM experiences at the Challenger Learning Center.

Check out our spaces! 

KidWind 2026 coming your way Friday, Feb. 27, 2026! 

We're looking forward to welcoming up to 150 school, Scout, and home school students to campus for our national award-winning competition. 

The details: Central Illinois KidWind Renewable Energy Challenge teams will build a model wind turbine of their own design, bring their model to the competition, and test how much power their turbine can generate in the KidWind wind tunnel. Judges will score turbines for power and design in the middle or high school division. Winners this year will advance to world competition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the spring.

Deadine to register your team(s) is Feb. 6 or until all the 150 spots are filled.  Use this link to sign up.

Check out our last year's winners below:

KidWind Challenge 2025 winners!
Feb. 12-Feb. 19, 2025

Educators, sign up now for STEM experiences!