For the last 20 years KidWind has been focused on helping educators and students explore renewable energy. I wish I had kept track of all the teachers and students our team has trained and impacted over those years. But let’s just say it's a pretty big number.

The idea of the KidWind Project started in 2003 when I was a sixth grade science teacher in California. Unhappy with the poor quality of products and curricula available for teaching wind energy science, I set out to develop some new materials. With an initial investment of $1,000 and a fellowship at the Wright Center for Science Education at Tufts University, I developed a new approach to educating the world about wind energy.

KidWind and our team of amazing instructors focus on three major areas - teacher training, curricula and materials, and the KidWind Challenge.

Training

In the summer of 2004, we held our first educator workshops in ME, VT, MA & NY. They were a hit and we were off and running. The demand for training and outreach quickly overwhelmed our capacity and we realized that we needed to build a much larger team of trainers. In the summer of 2008, we held our first master trainers workshop called WindSenators. The goal of WindSenators was to train two educators from every state to help us teach the world about Wind. As of 2019, over 480 educators have attended this training and are actively teaching thousands of students and other educators each year.

Curriculum & Lessons

With a grant from the Department of Energy, we developed 5 lessons around wind energy that to this day that we still think are awesome. See them here. In 2011, we released our flagship curriculum WindWise. This was produced with a grant from NYSERDA and developed in partnership with Pandion (now Normandeau Associates). This has been updated with small grants over National Renewable Energy Lab and other partners over the years.

Kits & Materials

In the fall of 2004, the first kits were shipped from the headquarters of Michael’s basement in Arlington, MA. From there things just got bigger and bigger. By 2012, KidWind had a massive warehouse, 25 employees and we were shipping thousands of classroom kits each year.

In 2014, KidWind partnered with Vernier Software and Technology and they graciously took over the production and delivery of KidWind products. We continue to work with Vernier to develop robust educational kits, probes, and materials to help students engage with renewable energy and the related STEM concepts. Vernier is the largest financial supporter of the KidWind Challenge and donate 5% of every dollar they make on KidWind products to support the Challenge and related projects.

KidWind Challenge

The very first KidWind Challenge was held in a science classroom in Monterey, CA in 2003.

The First KidWind Challenge in 2003

Years later, with support from NYSERDA, we held our first official KidWind Challenge in Albany, NY, way back in 2009.

Since 2009, KidWind Challenge events have been successfully implemented in 30 states, with roughly 40,000 students competing in 300 events across the country.

Our 2021-2022 Challenge season had us back in person after a difficult few years:

• 23 KidWind Challenges in 15 states and Mexico!
• 37 Educator Training Events with over 500+ teachers trained
• 500+ Online Challenge Submissions

REcharge Labs

In 2015, KidWind launched a new project with Asia Ward called REcharge Labs. REcharge Labs was started to develop a new suite of resources that would allow all learners (K-College) to more creatively explore wind and solar power by blending the art and science around renewable energy.

REcharge Labs developed an amazing set of lessons and kits that helped students to construct houses, cars, fountains that were powered by the wind and sun. In 2019, REcharge Labs closed as Asia moved on to found an art focused conservancy and Michael refocused his efforts around the KidWind Challenge. All of the REcharge Labs lessons and materials are now owned by KidWind and can be found here.

Dedication

Without some important visionaries, the KidWind would never have become the success that it is today. These organizations and individuals went out on a limb and helped us start something great. We thank them for their passion, energy, and continued support.

• Asia Ward, Co-Founder of Recharge Labs
• Dick Michaud (formerly of the Department of Energy, Boston Office)
• Joe Rand, formerly KidWind’s #2
• Larry Flowers (formerly of NREL Wind Technology Center)
• Trudy Forsyth (formerly of NREL Wind Technology Center)
• Original KidWind Challenge Team: Brad Weaver, Andy Lueth & Linda Elie
• New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA)
• Wright Center for Science Education at Tufts University
• Vernier Software & Technology
• Harbec Plastics

Partners & Volunteers

We have an amazing national outreach team comprised of individuals, organizations, and institutions who practically work for free. They love this project and make the magic happen at our local and regional events. Without their hard work and dedication, none of this happens. I would like specifically call out some superstars!

Individuals

• Andy Lueth
• Angela Christine Stoltz
• Casey Heiser
• Colleen Fisk
• Colleen McDaniel
• Curtis Morgan
• David Andrade
• David Carter
• David Yaff
• Diane Painter
• Elise DeGeorge
• Fran Poodry
• Gus Goodwin
• Ian Baring Gould
• James Brown
• Jerry Bernardini
• Kathy Jackson
• Kerri MacKay
• Meghan Phadke
• Michael Phalen
• Mike McNally
• Mike Rinaldi
• Parker Mullins
• Peter Zack
• Ray Alls
• Ray Pitcher
• Remy Pangle
• Richard Anderson
• Romie Tejeda Barron
• Yvonne Cook
• Tim Noonen

Organizations and Institutions

• CEEWA
• CREATE Program
• Cradle of Aviation
• Department of Energy - Collegiate Wind Competition and affiliated colleges
• Department of Energy - Wind for Schools Program and affiliated state programs/universities
• Flinn Scientific & WhiteB x Learning
• Kansas Energy Program
• KEH Marketing
• National Society of Black Engineers
• Renewable Energy Alaska Project
• REpowering Schools
• SpirtWind Kidz Ranch
• Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE)

Educators, Students, and Parents

None of this happens without all of the great educators and students willing to try something new and the parents that support them! Thanks for all your passion and vision!