"No one can teach science like the Challenger Learning Center!"
A field trip at the Challenger Learning Center takes the traditional field trip to the next level. It’s not about walking through an exhibit – looking and reading static information. It’s about being immersed in the experience – being assigned to a job, working as a team, communicating, problem solving and applying math, language, science and technology skills to complete a high energy and exciting task.
Below are the booking dates for the 2025/2026 school year.
Endowed Schools*: March 3rd, 2025
All Other Schools: March 10th, 2025
Programs can be reserved throughout the school year by calling (219) 989-3250. Due to high demand, field trip dates will become limited the farther into the school year one waits to book. To have access to the premium time slots and have first pick of dates, please book as early as possible with our Financial Manager, Karen Cearing.
*ENDOWED SCHOOLS PLEASE NOTE: The CLCNWI Board of Directors may have elected to restructure the endowment partnership with your school district. These changes may affect how your district handles your CLCNWI field trips. Your superintendents have been notified in writing and have the details of the changes.
If you need a letter to present to your school district or administrator to justify a field trip to Challenger Learning Center for a Simulated Space Mission, click here for a sample letter that you can edit to meet your needs:
Challenger-Columbia Teacher Grant
The Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana partners with local businesses and organizations to assist with supplemental funding in support of STEM programming.These funds can help you offset the cost of your scheduled program(s).
The Grant Application closed on May 31st, 2025, at 11:59 pm. We are no longer accepting grant applications.
Eligibility: Open to school groups that have already booked their program(s) with Challenger for the 2025 - 2026 school year.
Awards Announced: Schools will be notified the status of their grant application no later than August 2025.
Requirements:
- Download and complete the Challenger-Columbia Teacher Grant Application (Interactive PDF Document)
- Email: Karen Cearing, Finance Manager/Sales Coordinator at cearing@clcnwi.com
- Include the Subject Line: Challenger-Columbia Teacher Grant Application for (INSERT SCHOOL NAME)
- Attach your completed application as an attachment
- Do not send your completed Teacher Grant Application until MAY 1ST, 2025, AT 8:00 AM.
If you should have any questions concerning the Challenger-Columbia Teacher Grant application/process, please contact our office at (219) 989-3250.
GRANT WINDOW CLOSED on SATURDAY, MAY 31ST, at 11:59 PM CST.
*Note: If you fax or mail your application from us and do not hear that we have received it, please follow up. ONLY follow up if you have not heard that we received your application ONLY if you MAILED OR FAXED IT over to us. If it was emailed to us, we did receive it and you will hear from us in August. Thank you!
