Challenger Learning Center, Wheeling, WV

10/15/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Kallysta Hayduke! 🎉

We are proud to celebrate Kallysta, who was recognized by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and awarded a scholarship in recognition of her accomplishments. Kallysta is an education major at Wheeling University, and we are fortunate to have her as part of our team!

Congratulations, Kallysta! We are so proud of you and excited to see all that you will accomplish in the future!

Kallysta Hayduke, an education major at Wheeling University, was recognized by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was awarded a scholarship by the society. Dr. Shawna Safreed, Director of the Education Program, joined Kallysta at the ceremony.

10/15/2026

✨Bring Learning to Life with Our e-Mission Program!✨

Looking for an exciting way to engage your students, challenge their thinking, and make learning unforgettable? Our e-Mission program brings learning beyond the classroom!

e-Missions are crisis-based problem-solving experiences that put students in the middle of realistic scenarios where they must work together, analyze information, make decisions, and solve problems under pressure. These engaging experiences enhance critical thinking skills while encouraging teamwork, communication, and collaboration.

Why schedule an e-Mission for your students?

*Crisis-based scenarios that challenge students to think critically and creatively
*Hands-on problem-solving that puts learning into action
*Opportunities to strengthen teamwork, communication, and decision-making skills
*Real-world challenges that make learning meaningful and memorable
*Give your students more than a lesson, give them a mission!

Ready to bring e-Mission to your school or classroom? Give your students the opportunity to step into a challenge, work together, and discover what they can accomplish.

Contact us today to learn more and schedule an e-Mission experience for your students!✨
https://e-missions.clcwheeling.org/

10/12/2026

🚀🌙 MISSION UPDATE: GUARDIAN ANGEL ACADEMY HAS JOINED THE CREW!

Last Friday, we were thrilled to welcome Guardian Angel Academy of Pittsburgh, PA, as the latest crew to join us on an OUTSTANDING mission to conquer the Moon!
What an exciting adventure! Our newest crew joined the mission, bringing curiosity, teamwork, and a spirit of exploration as we continue reaching for the stars.

A huge welcome to Guardian Angel Academy! We’re excited to have you aboard and can’t wait to see the amazing things your crew will accomplish on this incredible journey!

One crew. One mission. One giant leap toward the Moon! 🌙🚀

10/08/2026

What an incredible couple of days with our amazing Micronauts!

We were thrilled to welcome the crew from Weirton Elementary School for two days of exciting missions, exploration, teamwork, and hands-on learning!

These young explorers brought so much curiosity, enthusiasm, and energy as they took on their Micronauts missions. From working together to solve challenges to discovering new things along the way, they reminded us just how exciting learning can be!

A huge THANK YOU to the wonderful students and teachers from Weirton Elementary School for joining us yesterday and today. We loved having you as part of our crew and hope you had as much fun as we did!

Until our next mission, Micronauts! 🧑‍🚀👩‍🚀

09/29/2026

A reminder of the power of hands-on, experiential learning is exactly why Challenger Learning Centers make such a lasting impact on students. 🚀

09/28/2026

Teachers, this school year, we’re going back to the Moon!

LUNAR QUEST is the mission your students won’t just learn about, they’ll experience it.

In keeping with NASA’s Artemis missions and humanity’s return to the Moon, your students will step into the roles of lunar explorers and take their seats inside our spacecraft simulator, then work together from Mission Control to complete their mission.

They’ll communicate, solve problems, make decisions and work as a team as they experience what it takes to fly a mission to the Moon.

This isn’t a field trip where students simply watch.

They are the crew, and we can accommodate up to 34 members!

Bring your students to the Challenger Learning Center at Wheeling University and let them experience the excitement of lunar exploration firsthand.

Your students are ready. The Moon is waiting.

Book your Lunar Quest mission here for this school year!
https://www.clcwheeling.org/contact/book-an-on-site-mission/28

09/24/2026

We kicked off our new school year with our VERY FIRST MISSION, and what a crew to start with!

The amazing students from St. Francis de Sales School in Morgantown joined us for a mission to the Moon, and they were GREAT! They jumped right in, worked together as a team, and made our first mission of the new school year one to remember.

We loved having them with us at the Challenger Learning Center and are so excited for all the missions, discoveries, and adventures ahead this school year!

Thanks for joining us, St. Francis de Sales, you helped us start the year off right!

09/21/2026

We had a great time with the team from the Black Diamond Council during their recent Operation Montserrat mission!

Thank you to the Black Diamond Council for joining us and making the mission such a great experience. From investigating volcanic activity to working together to respond to an unfolding disaster, the team jumped right in and gave it their all!

We had just as much fun as they did and loved watching the teamwork, problem-solving, and excitement unfold throughout the mission.

We’re looking forward to sharing Operation Montserrat with the Girl Scouts and can’t wait to welcome them for their own adventure!

09/10/2026

We love AstroFemina! They’re inspiring, determined, and proving that there’s a place for everyone in the world of space and STEM. We’re proud to cheer them on and celebrate the next generation of women reaching for the stars! 💫

“Stories have power.” 💫

When AstraFemina’s founders began receiving requests to speak with girls about STEM, they recognized something important: Those opportunities often depended on knowing the right person.

But what about the communities that did not already have a woman in STEM within their network?

AstraFemina was created to help bridge that gap. Our five founding members, Dr. Sandra Magnus, Susan Helms, Jan Davis, Wendy Lawrence, and Barbara Morgan, believed every girl should have the opportunity to meet women working in STEM, hear their stories, and see just how many possibilities are waiting for her.

Seven years later, that belief continues to guide everything we do. Our members share their real experiences, including the unexpected turns, challenges, successes, and moments that shaped their careers. Through those stories, girls can begin to picture themselves walking similar paths.

That is why we do what we do.

Read the story behind AstraFemina and hear more from Board President and Co-founder Dr. Sandra Magnus in our anniversary blog: https://www.astrafemina.org/get-inspired/astra-journal.html/article/2026/09/06/seven-years-of-showing-girls-what-is-possible

09/10/2026

We kicked off the new school year with a great day of staff training at the Challenger Learning Center!

It was a wonderful opportunity to step away from our usual routines, learn together, and get ready for another exciting year of bringing STEM learning to students. From sharing ideas to exploring new ways to make our missions even better!

We’re grateful for the time we have together as a team and for the opportunity to keep growing, learning, and preparing for the students who will walk through our doors this year.

Here’s to a great year ahead!🚀😁