Homeschool STEM programs
Challenger is partnering with the Cole Land Transportation Museum to create dual programs. For the majority of the 2025 schedule there will be a Challenger program partnered with a Cole Museum program. We are so excited to offer you some great homeschool opportunities!
Challenger Homeschool program registration
2025 Homeschool Program Information
March 27th: Lego WeDo Programming
Join Challenger for an afternoon of robotics and programming fun! Participants will create a robotic Lego Rover and then put their coding to the test with a series of mini challenges! Beginners welcome!
Open to students in grades 2-6
This program runs March 27th from 1:30-3:00pm.
Parent/guardian encouraged to stay and join the fun!!
Cost: $10
Location: Program takes place at the Challenger Learning Center (30 Venture Way, Bangor ME 04401)
Register : http://challengerprogram.campbrainregistration.com
April 29th: Exploration Lab
Calling all young scientists! Join Challenger for an afternoon of science career exploration with our Exploration Lab program! Participants will spend time exploring several mini labs in both our Mission Control and Spacecraft simulators, while getting to try out first hand some jobs that go into keeping the space program afloat!
Open to grades 1-5
This program runs April 29th from 1:30-3:30pm. Program takes place at the Challenger Learning Center (30 Venture Way, Bangor ME 04401)
Parent/guardian encouraged to stay and join the fun!!
Cost: $15
Location: Program takes place at the Challenger Learning Center (30 Venture Way, Bangor ME 04401)
Register : http://challengerprogram.campbrainregistration.com
May 16th: Earth Odyssey Mission and Veteran Interview
We invite your middle/high schooler to join us for a day of discovery! Students start the fun at the Challenger Learning Center where they will run Challenger’s newest mission program -Earth Odyssey! This mission turns Maine into mission control and requires the crew to retrieve a non-functional satellite and download the data before its too late! Then the crew will transfer to the Cole Land Transportation Museum where they will participate in a Veteran Interview and Museum Tour.
This day is designed for students in 7th-12th grade and, while transportation will be required between the Cole Museum and Challenger, can otherwise be a drop off event. Families are encouraged to independently visit the Cole Museum while students are there or stay to enjoy the interview.
Earth Odyssey Mission 10-12:30
Lunch and travel 12:30-1:15 (lunch AND transportation must be provided through family)
Veteran Interview and Tour 1:15-3:15
Cost: $15/student -accompanying adults free!
Location: The first part of the program will be at Challenger Maine, 30 Venture Way, Bangor, ME. The second part of the program will be held at the Cole Land Transportation Museum, 405 Perry Rd, Bangor, ME.
Register: http://challengerprogram.campbrainregistration.com
Please note, by registering you are agreeing to participate in the entire day’s activities, not one site or the other.
June 9th: Junior Scientists Day
Join us June 9th where your Junior Scientist will participate in our Apollo-13 Simulation in our Mission Control and Space Lab simulators, then become curators for the Cole Land Transportation Museum as they try to identify mysterious artifacts from the museum.
This activity is designed for students in grades 2-6. Optional drop off for the Challenger portion, however families are asked to stay and accompany their students for the Cole Portion
Junior Curator and Tour 9-11
Lunch and travel 11:00-11:45 (lunch AND transportation must be provided through family)
Apollo-13 11:45-1:45
Cost: $10/student -accompanying adult free! (Parent/guardian encouraged to stay and join the fun!!)
Location: The first part of the program will be held at the Cole Land Transportation Museum, 405 Perry Rd, Bangor, ME. The second part of the program will be at Challenger Maine, 30 Venture Way, Bangor, ME.
Register: http://challengerprogram.campbrainregistration.com
Please note, by registering you are agreeing to participate in the entire day’s activities, not one site or the other.
September 4th: Lego WeDo Programming and Junior Curator
Join the Challenger Team September 4th as we partner up with the Cole Land Transportation Museum to explore some examples of engineering through the ages found in Cole’s vehicles, then apply what we have seen by building and programing our very own Lego vehicles.
Designed for students in grades 2-6
Lego WeDo 10-11:30
Junior Curator and Tour 12:15-2:15
Cost: $10/student -accompanying adult free! (Parent/guardian encouraged to stay and join the fun!!)
Location: This entire program will be held at the Cole Land Transportation Museum, 405 Perry Rd, Bangor, ME
Register: Registration opens August 1st http://challengerprogram.campbrainregistration.com
Please note, by registering you are agreeing to participate in the entire day’s activities, not one site or the other.
October 15th: Maine to the Moon
We invite your middle schooler to join us for a day of discovery, starting here in Maine and ending with the Moon! Students start at the Cole Land Transportation Museum where they will interview Maine Veterans about their experiences, then tour the Cole Museum. After lunch (not provided) students are invited to the Challenger Learning Center to run our Lunar Quest Mission with a goal of surveying the Moon for safe human habitats.
This day is designed for students in 6th-10th grade and, while transportation will be required between the Cole Museum and Challenger, can otherwise be a drop off event. Families are encouraged to independently visit the Cole Museum while students are there or stay to enjoy the interview.
October 15th
Vet Interview @ Cole 9:30-11:30
Lunch and travel 11:30-12:15 (lunch AND transportation must be provided through family)
Mission @ CLC 12:15-2:45
Cost: $15/student -accompanying adults free!
Location: The first part of the program will be held at the Cole Land Transportation Museum, 405 Perry Rd, Bangor, ME. The second part of the program will be at Challenger Maine, 30 Venture Way, Bangor, ME.
Register: Registration opens August 1st http://challengerprogram.campbrainregistration.com
Please note, by registering you are agreeing to participate in the entire day’s activities, not one site or the other.
November 4th: Veteran Celebration
We invite you to celebrate Veteran’s Day early with a two part event! Kick the day off at the Challenger Learning Center with our Apollo-13 Mission! Participants put their communication and creativity to the test as we recreate the Apollo-13 Emergency! Recommended for grades 2+
Then cap off your day with an opportunity to meet with Maine Veterans at the Cole Land Transportation Museum and create thank you cards to be distributed on Veteran’s Day. (All ages welcome for this portion of the Day, however there is an age restriction for participation in the Challenger Portion of the Day.)
Apollo-13 Event @ Challenger: 9-11
Veteran Thanks Program @ Cole: 11:45-1:45
Cost: FREE
Location: The first part of the program will be at Challenger Maine, 30 Venture Way, Bangor, ME. The second part of the program will be held at the Cole Land Transportation Museum, 405 Perry Rd, Bangor, ME.
Register: Registration opens August 1st http://challengerprogram.campbrainregistration.com
Please note, by registering you are agreeing to participate in the entire day’s activities, not one site or the other.
Email any questions to [email protected]
If you have any questions, please reach out to Sarah Raymond-Boyan- [email protected]