The KidWind Challenge is a hands-on wind turbine design competition that engages middle and high school students in STEM through the lens of wind energy. Student teams bring small-scale wind turbines that they've designed to the challenge where they will be tested in a wind tunnel. Teams will meet with a panel of expert judges to present their design process and demonstrate their contextual knowledge of wind energy and tackle instant challenge activities.
We are thrilled to announce that the 2023 WI KidWind Challenge will take place on Saturday, March 4th at the Discovery Building at the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus.
What will the Challenge consist of?
At the Challenge, student teams will:
- Test their energy output in a competition-grade wind tunnel
- Present in front of a panel of expert judges
- Complete instant challenges that test teamwork and hands-on thinking
- Hear from college students studying renewable energy and competing in the collegiate wind competition
- Explore green careers
Friends and family are welcome and encouraged to come support their teams.
Join the Science Expo at the 2023 KidWind Challenge! 10:00 am - Noon
New this year, a hands-on Science Exploration Expo will be held from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Come feel the energy in the air! During the KidWind competition, there will be hands-on science stations to explore related to energy, sustainability and climate, and you can watch as teams test and refine their model wind turbines. This event is free and open to the public.
- Explore hands-on science activities related to energy, sustainability and climate
- Interact with scientists and learn about their journeys
- Discover the KidWind Challenge and see participants in action
- Stick around for a clean energy career panel
- And more!
Everybody is welcome to come explore energy and meet with UW–Madison students and researchers.
Who can participate in the Challenge?
Any group of students in grades 4 to 12 is eligible to enter a team. This includes students from public and private schools, home schoolers, after school clubs, Scout troops, etc. As long as you have a coach and a team, you can attend! Teams of 2-6 students seem to work best.
Each team must have a coach. The coach will be responsible for registering the team for the competition and managing the team’s progress. Neither KidWind nor the Wisconsin Energy Institute will provide or be responsible for supervision of students at a Challenge. We require teams to make sure that there be one adult for every ten students who attend a Challenge.
The Challenge is free to compete in and attend.
Top performers will be invited to the 2023 National KidWind Challenge in Boulder Colorado May 14-17, 2023.
Ready to get started?
REGISTER HERE by January 15th
Click here for a pdf preview of the Registration Form.
For detailed information on preparing for a challenge, download the 2021-22 WI KidWind Challenge Rulebook. In the rulebook you'll see example scoring rubrics. The 2022-23 Rulebook will be published in early 2023.
Need gear?
Limited Renewable Energy Education Kits are available for Wisconsin Teachers who'd like to bring a team of students to the Challenge, but don't have the means to purchase gear. Please contact outreach@energy.wisc.edu for more information.
Questions or comments? Want to know more? Contact us at outreach@energy.wisc.edu!
