The Special Education Foundation’s Junior Leaders Academy class took their leadership learning to new heights on Tuesday, October 27, with a visit to the Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis.

During this hands-on experience, students participated in The Great Rocket Design Challenge, exploring creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration as they worked through a STEM-based challenge. Students worked cooperatively using math, writing, design engineering, and interpersonal skills to design, construct, and test paper rockets that launch on a high-powered air launcher.

After lunch, students became Junior Astronauts during a simulated Mars Pioneers space mission. This interactive experience is designed to challenge them to think critically, communicate effectively, and work together to accomplish mission objectives. These activities reinforce essential leadership skills, including decision-making, adaptability, listening to others, and recognizing the strengths each team member brings.

The Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis is part of a worldwide network established by the families of the astronauts who lost their lives in the 1986 Challenger space shuttle tragedy. The center uses space mission simulations and STEM education to inspire learning and develop teamwork skills. These team-building activities give students additional opportunities to practice communication, cooperation, and working toward a shared goal.

The Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis is part of a worldwide network established by the families of the astronauts who lost their lives in the 1986 Challenger space shuttle tragedy. The center uses space mission simulations and STEM education to inspire learning and develop teamwork skills. These team-building activities give students additional opportunities to practice communication, cooperation, and working toward a shared goal.

The Junior Leaders Academy will conclude its program on Tuesday, December 1, with a visit to the Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. Students will participate in a guided tour and hear testimony from a Holocaust survivor or a survivor’s family member. The day will also include a presentation by Lauren Peffley on digital safety, healthy relationships, and resisting peer pressure.

This year’s opportunities and experiences help students strengthen their emerging leadership skills while developing empathy, confidence, responsible decision-making, and a deeper understanding of how their choices can positively influence others.