Challenger Center: Developing a Learning Center

Olean, NY

St. George, UT

Lockport, NY

Albuquerque, NM

Amazing things start to happen when a Challenger Learning Center opens in a community. They often become the focal point for a rededication to a community-wide commitment to learning.

By extending its programming reach beyond just schools and into the community at large, Challenger Learning Centers often become hosts to engaging family learning experiences.

Challenger Learning Center Champions

What does it take to become a Challenger Learning Center community? The process often begins with just one person.

Perhaps it's a physician such as Dr. John Meredith, who is working to bring a Learning Center to Greenville, North Carolina. He says, "Greenville is a major under-served region of our country. If we are to do anything about this problem, we must enhance the level of public education in science and math."

Or it could be a school administrator as Gary Pellico, project director for the recently opened Challenger Learning Center in Decatur Township, Indiana. He said, "One of our goals was to take advantage of our location to motivate our students to pursue the technology jobs available here."

As Challenger Learning Center champions reach out to their communities, they take ownership of the process. With Challenger Center's guidance, they are solely responsible for fund raising, planning, and developing their Learning Center. And because so many individuals work on the project, from civic and business leaders to local business owners and educators, the Challenger Learning Center truly becomes an education resource for everyone.

The Process

The development of each Challenger Learning Center is unique; however, communities interested in opening a facility can expect the entire effort to take approximately 24 to 36 months. The process is divided into three main stages.

Stage One: Exploration

After learning more about Challenger Center and its Learning Center programs, an organization or community begins the initial exploratory phase by forming a planning committee. The group completes a Feasibility Study—a series of questions intended to get participants to evaluate how a Challenger Learning Center will impact their community.

Stage Two: Application

Upon the approval of a community's Feasibility Study, the planning committee then forms individual committees on Education/Technology, Marketing/Public Relations, Finance/Fundraising, and Operations. The various committee members must then work together to complete an application.

Stage Three: Development

The development stage begins after Challenger Center's Board of Directors approve the application. In addition to fund raising, committee members are tasked with integrating the future Challenger Learning Center into the education fabric of the community, and working on marketing and public relations strategies. This period is also marked by construction of the Challenger Learning Center, including the fabrication and installation of the simulator.

Welcome to the Challenger Learning Center network! The years of hard work and dedication pay off when local students and teachers are launched into their very first simulated mission experience.

Additional Information

You can begin the process of developing a Challenger Learning Center in your hometown. If you have a genuine interest in bringing quality science education to your region's children, become a Challenger Center champion.

Select your state of residence from the list below. You'll learn how to contact the appropriate Regional Sales Director for your area.

International inquiries are encouraged to contact Challenger Center headquarters at (888) 683-9740.