Challenge Island

With 150+ locations and a bestselling book series, Challenge Island is the World’s #1 STEM/STEAM Program. Challenge Island has served over 5 million children and has partnerships with over 15,000 schools and community organizations. During our award-winning classes, camps, field trips, and family engagement events, STEAM Teams® of elementary and middle school-aged kids tackle exciting engineering challenges using only the materials in their treasure chest and their boundless imaginations. Challenge Island’s award-winning, one-of-a-kind curriculum consists of hundreds of unique challenge lessons that are Common Core and Next Generation Science Standard aligned. We are a family-like “Ohana” with the hallmark of stellar corporate support and incredible franchisees who are always willing to lend a helping hand to our newest owners. Join us on the island - where engineering meets imagination!

WHY Choose Challenge Island?
Challenge Island is a proven and well-established franchise model that has received 18 Franchise 500 Rankings from Entrepreneur Magazine, 4 Parents Picks awards and numerous Game Changer and Frantastic 500 awards. With over 150 franchises ,15,000 community partners and 5 million children served, Challenge Island formidable national brand recognition within the educational and parent sector. That platform has increased exponentially with the release of our bestselling STEAM book series which the School Library Journal called ”A great STEM/STEAM book series that belongs on the shelves of every elementary and middle school library.” Challenge Island is a one-of-a-kind franchise opportunity with a nurturing family-like franchise culture and unparalleled franchisee support.

Parent-Paid Educational Enrichment is an 8 Billion Dollar Industry.
Parent-Paid Summer Camp is a 20 Billion Dollar Industry.
During the 2022-2023 school year, 56% of public schools are offering afterschool enrichment programs.
Challenge Island’s perfect alignment with National Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards combined with its critical emphasis on 21st Century skills, makes it an ideal recipient for National government grant funding such as Title 1. This is a massive market for our franchisees. In 2022, Title 1 received 36.5 Billion dollars to spend on curricular programs like Challenge Island .
Mobile business, programs run onsite in schools so there is no overhead of a brick and mortar.
Demand is enormous for Challenge Island!

OUR IDEAL FRANCHISEE

Our 150+ owners come from diverse backgrounds with 50% being former educators and the rest running the gamut of professional backgrounds.

Visionary and Passionate: Aims to Make a Difference AND an Income

Love of Working with Children + Entrepreneurial, Spirit

Fun and Outgoing Personality + Strong Communication Skills

Enjoys being a Team Player and Collaborating with Our Owners Ohana

Creative Thinker with Big Dreams and a Fundamental Growth Mindset.
Lots of Dog Lovers!

AVAILABLE MARKETS
US markets available: All except noted below

NOT available: WA

Available in Canada: No

International Referrals: No

BACKGROUND
Year founded: 2003

Year Franchised: 2012

Number of franchises currently operating: 165

Number of International franchises currently operating: 0

Number of corporate owned franchises: 0

Home Based: Yes

Absentee ownership available: No

Semi-Absentee ownership available: Yes

Accepting Master Franchisor and Area Developer Referrals: Yes

Average number of employees required: 0-3

E2 Visa Friendly: Yes

FINANCIAL DETAILS

Franchise Fee: Single: $44,900

Providing earnings guidance in Item 19 in FDD: No

Total investment range: Single Unit: $48,300 to $62,950

Net worth requirement: $100,000

Royalty: 7% (minimum of $1200/12 weeks goes into effect after the first 9 months)

Additional fees: $75/mo FMT

Financial assistance available: 3rd Party

VetFran program: Yes

Veterans/Minorities/First Responders Discount? Yes

SUPPORT & TRAINING PROVIDED
Training and support program details:

At least two (2) weeks before the opening of your Business, you must attend, and we will provide four (4) days of training for you and your initial staff (not to exceed four (4) individuals) at no cost.

Cost for Training: Included

Lodging and airfare included: No

Site Selection Assistance: No

Lease Negotiation Assistance: No
Mentor following training: Yes

Length of mentoring Franchisee: Ongoing

Last updated: 7/7/2026

Liaison: Lori Conte, CFPC