What changed for Fall 2026
After a full day of school, children do not necessarily need another traditional class. They need an opportunity to move, create, work together, experiment, and discover what they can accomplish. That is why we have redesigned our Evening Enrichment program around Weekly STEM Challenges.
Previously, our enrichment program focused on individual subjects such as LEGO building, chess, robotics, 3D printing, AI and other topics. These activities will still be part of the Arena STEM experience, but we are changing how children use them.
Instead of spending several weeks learning about one particular subject, children will use a variety of tools, materials, and activities to take on exciting, age-appropriate challenges. Instructors will be there to teach, guide, and encourage.
Each experience begins with a mission, problem, or goal. Students imagine possible solutions, create a plan, build and test their ideas, learn from what does not work, and improve their designs. They can compete against each other or against the mission objective. Then they will engage in other hands-on activities and structured play time.
Why are we making this change?
Because the tools children use and the jobs they may have will continue to change. What will always remain vital is their ability to understand a problem, quickly adjust, work with others, test an idea, make improvements, and keep going when something does not work the first time.
Recent research supports this approach: hands-on experiences increase K–12 students’ interest in learning, while problem-solving, creativity, adaptability, and confidence with new tools are becoming increasingly important for future success.
Our goal is not simply to teach children how to use technology or complete a project by following instructions. We want to help them build meaningful STEM knowledge while becoming capable and confident individuals who know how to turn their ideas into solutions.
We are pulling together these challenges from leading programs, schools, and camps. This is STEM in action—and we cannot wait for your child to experience it.
Choose Any Day. Same Weekly Challenge.
Choose the day that works best for your family each week. The same featured challenge is offered in every session throughout the week, so kids enjoy the same full experience no matter which day they attend. Kids imagine, design, build, code, test, and improve their ideas using different tools and materials. With instructor guidance, they gain practical STEM knowledge while strengthening creativity, problem-solving, and confidence—and finish with something they’re proud to have created.
Meet the Challenge
5-10 minutes
Learn the weekly goal, explore the tools and materials, and review how to use them safely.
Imagine, Build & Improve
30–90 minutes
Design, build, code, test, and improve—with instructor guidance and room to think creatively or adjust quickly.
Test & Compete
15 - 20 minutes
Put each creation to the test through a fun race, competition, demonstration, or team goal.
Reflect & Celebrate
5 minutes
Share what worked, what they learned, and what they would change—then celebrate what they created.
On Fridays, all students are invited to join our Real-World Life Skills events, featuring hands-on experiences that strengthen practical abilities, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, confidence, and independence. Activities may include culinary basics, hands-on building projects, collaborative challenges, planning and organization, and other useful everyday skills.
Our Chess Club will continue separately on a weekly schedule (classes offered Monday through Thursday, based on demand), but with a stronger focus on skill development, strategic thinking, and competition.
Two Levels, One Challenge
Most challenges run a Junior and a Senior variant side by side, so mixed-age groups all work on the same weekly challenge at the right level of difficulty.
Simpler rules, more instructor help
Junior kids get a more guided version of the same challenge — clearer starting steps, more hands-on instructor support, and success criteria sized to a first attempt.
More independence, an added twist
Senior kids tackle the same core challenge with less hand-holding and an extra constraint or stretch goal — like predicting a result before testing it.
Hours of operations
We are open Monday to Friday 5PM-8PM. All challenges will start at 5:30PM, 6:00PM and 6:30PM, and children can choose which one they want to join. Children are welcome to come as early as 5PM and leave as late as 8PM. There will be additional activities and play time before and after challenges.
Weekly Schedule
The same challenge runs all week, you pick the day works best. 15 challenges over 16 weeks, with Thanksgiving week off.
Children are welcome to come more than once a week.