The goal of KidWind is to excite students about clean energy and careers in related fields, and to help educators understand clean energy technology.  The student teams design and construct small wind turbines and solar devices that they test to determine how they produce energy.  The KidWind Challenge is a hands-on design competition that engages students in STEM through the lens of wind and solar energy.   During a challenge, the student teams meet with a panel of judges to present their wind and solar projects, discuss their design process, and demonstrate their conceptual knowledge about renewable energies. Teams also engage in a variety of Instant Challenges to gauge their on-the-spot teamwork and problem-solving skills.

See the PBS KidWind movie published in September 2024. In this movie, you will see how Makersmiths solar and wind teams design, make, and test out their projects. The movie begins with a visit to a governor's school in VA that has a wind team testing their blades and learning to look at the performance data. It transitions to JMU where you meet Remy Pangle, the person who coordinates KidWind in Virginia. Then about 14 minutes into the movie, you will see the Makersmiths' high school solar team and the middle school wind team in action as the teams prepare for KidWind challenges.

What are the benefits to youth who engage in KidWind? Learn more about why Makersmiths sponsors KidWind as an afterschool STEM initiative: Students Explore Real-World Energy Projects