PA KidWind Challenge

About the PA KidWind Challenge:

The PA KidWind Challenge is an annual event that takes place every year at the end of March or early April on the Penn State University Park campus. The event is co-hosted by the Center for Science and the Schools in the College of Education and the Department of Aerospace Engineering.

The KidWind Challenge is the ultimate wind energy learning experience for students in grades 4-12.

You can register for the competition HERE.

Build and Test Challenge

Teams will design and build their own blades from recycled materials and incorporate into a turbine system, including a generator, hub, and possibly and gearbox.

This challenge will be in person this year! Students will have the opportunity to come test in the KidWind tunnel during a scheduled timeslot on a PSU campus.

The Pennsylvania competitions have 3 divisions.

Elementary school division (4th-5th graders)
Middle school division (6th-8th graders)
High school division (9th-12th graders)

This competition includes two components: 1) build and test your own wind turbine, and 2) a presentation to a panel of judges.

Regional Competitions

In order to attend the State Competition at Penn State University Park on March 27, 2024, you must attend a regional competition and place in the top three in your division (We reserve the right to adjust the number of qualifiers from each division due to the number of registered participating teams in attendance at each regional competition). You may choose which regional competition you want to attend. We are offering three regional competitions this year at the following locations:

Penn State Greater Allegheny - February 16, 2024, with a snow date on February 23, 2024.
Penn State Hazleton - February 15, 2024, with a snow date on February 22, 2024.
Penn State Altoona- February 27, 2024, with a snow date on February 29, 2024.

State Competition

In order to attend the State Competition at Penn State University Park on March 27, 2024, you must attend a regional competition and place in the top three in your division (We reserve the right to adjust the number of qualifiers from each division due to the number of registered participating teams in attendance at each regional competition).

Penn State University Park (HUB-Robeson Center)- March 27, 2024.

Nationals

The top teams from the Pennsylvania State KidWind Competition will be invited to compete at Nationals. Nationals will be occurring May 4-8, 2024, in Minneapolis, MN.