About
Challenge Island offers afterschool classes, in-school and onsite field trips, camps, Girl Scout workshops, birthday parties and other parties, and family engagement programs. The program includes themed options such as Slimetopia STEAM Camp, Parent Engagement STEAM Night, and a STEM activity for the Model-T Assembly line. During activities, kids work in STEAM Teams using a treasure-chest full of low-tech supplies, and programs are screen free with no screens or digital devices in afterschool classes, camps, or family nights.
• Ages: 5–14 years old
Challenge Island features face-to-face and virtual options and offers standard-aligned, cross-curricular K–12 field trips. Many activities use a whimsical island ambience with colorful headbands, floral leis, treasure chests, and an island drum. The program focuses on 21st century skills including creativity, collaboration, communication, flexibility, and leadership, and uses project-based, inquiry-based, student-driven learning grounded in real world connections, with an emphasis on social-emotional learning and resilience. Challenge Island also offers Challenge Island Book Series Programs that combine STEAM and reading (STREAM).
Sharon Duke Estroff, M.A.T., is the CEO and Founder of Challenge Island. She started Challenge Island in her 2nd grade classroom in Atlanta, GA in 2002 and has grown it to over 160 franchises in 36 states and 4 countries. The instructors are described as professional and kind and come fully prepared. Challenge Island is found in 20,000 schools and organizations and is described as “The World’s #1 STEM/STEAM Program” and “The World’s #1 STEAM Education Program.” It has received multiple Parents Picks Awards and other industry recognitions, including being ranked on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 for the fifth year in a row and appearing on lists such as Top Global Franchises, Fastest Growing Franchises, Top Low Cost Franchises, and Top Mobile Franchises.
Parents, school leaders, and community partners describe Challenge Island’s afterschool classes as highly sought after and its onsite field trips, family STEAM nights, and camp challenges as engaging for kids and families. Entrepreneur Magazine notes that Challenge Island programs do not use screens or digital devices and instead have kids working together in STEAM Teams with low-tech supplies. Testimonials from a head of school, a school principal, a public librarian, a recreation center director, and a parent and family engagement specialist describe positive experiences with afterschool classes, onsite field trips, camps, and Parent Engagement STEAM Night.
Last updated June 20, 2026.
• Ages: 5–14 years old
Challenge Island features face-to-face and virtual options and offers standard-aligned, cross-curricular K–12 field trips. Many activities use a whimsical island ambience with colorful headbands, floral leis, treasure chests, and an island drum. The program focuses on 21st century skills including creativity, collaboration, communication, flexibility, and leadership, and uses project-based, inquiry-based, student-driven learning grounded in real world connections, with an emphasis on social-emotional learning and resilience. Challenge Island also offers Challenge Island Book Series Programs that combine STEAM and reading (STREAM).
Sharon Duke Estroff, M.A.T., is the CEO and Founder of Challenge Island. She started Challenge Island in her 2nd grade classroom in Atlanta, GA in 2002 and has grown it to over 160 franchises in 36 states and 4 countries. The instructors are described as professional and kind and come fully prepared. Challenge Island is found in 20,000 schools and organizations and is described as “The World’s #1 STEM/STEAM Program” and “The World’s #1 STEAM Education Program.” It has received multiple Parents Picks Awards and other industry recognitions, including being ranked on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 for the fifth year in a row and appearing on lists such as Top Global Franchises, Fastest Growing Franchises, Top Low Cost Franchises, and Top Mobile Franchises.
Parents, school leaders, and community partners describe Challenge Island’s afterschool classes as highly sought after and its onsite field trips, family STEAM nights, and camp challenges as engaging for kids and families. Entrepreneur Magazine notes that Challenge Island programs do not use screens or digital devices and instead have kids working together in STEAM Teams with low-tech supplies. Testimonials from a head of school, a school principal, a public librarian, a recreation center director, and a parent and family engagement specialist describe positive experiences with afterschool classes, onsite field trips, camps, and Parent Engagement STEAM Night.
Last updated June 20, 2026.
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