VA Kidwind Coach Updates

⚡In this email:

• Registration Deadlines
• NEW Charlottesville Date
• NEW Tunnel Testing Locations
• Winchester Challenge- almost full
• Solar Rules Webinar Recording
• Kidwind for Educators event in Harrisonburg
• Suggested gear list document
• Upcoming Kidwind webinars
• Virginia Expo Registration Reminder

⚡Requested action items from this email:

• Complete the "Let us Know You're Coming" form by February 1st to save your team's spot
• Complete the Registration form by February 18th with all team details

⚡Additional action items if interested:

• Register for the Virginia Kidwind Expo
• Register for a Tunnel Testing event
• Register for the Kidwind for Educators event at Massanutten Library in Harrisonburg
• Attend a Kidwind webinar

Missed the last email? Find it on our website to stay up to date.

Registration Deadlines

Complete these steps in this order:

1. Sign up for Coach Emails (checkmark- you did it!)

2. Complete Let us Know You're Coming Form by February 1st (the sooner the better to reserve your spot)

3. Complete Registration Form by February 18th

Each challenge can only accommodate a finite number of teams- so secure your spot by filling out our "Let us Know You're Coming" form once know that you you plan to bring at least one team to a challenge. You do not need to know team details for this form, just how many teams you plan to bring.

More details on this process can be found on our website.

Challenge Dates and Locations

CASE will host 6 Regional Challenges across the state.

• Blacksburg- March 4th- Virginia Tech
• Petersburg- March 11st- Virginia State University
• Winchester- March 14th- Shenandoah University
• Hampton- March 18th (Tentative)- Virginia Air & Space Science Center
• Lynchburg- March 30th- Randolph College
• Charlottesville- March 25th (NEW DATE!)- University of Virginia

The VA Kidwind RE State Challenge will be held April 12th, 2025 at JMU.

Tunnel Testing Locations and Dates

CASE will host 5 Tunnel Testing Dates across the state. These serve as a chance for teams to experience the full size wind tunnel and test their project before the challenge. Events are long enough for teams to test multiple times and modify their project between tests. This is a great chance for data collection! Registration required.

• Harrisonburg- January 11th- JMU
• Norfolk- January 26th- Nauticus (Free admission to museum included!)
• Martinsville- February 10th- New College Institute
• Charlottesville- February 22nd- St. Anne's Belfield School
• Purceville- March 8th- Makersmith

Winchester Challenge- Almost Full!

15 coaches have signed up 30 teams for the Winchester Challenge by filling out the "Let us Know You're Coming" form!

We have room for only FOUR more wind teams at this challenge! The solar division is full.

If you were planning to attend this challenge, we recommend looking for the next challenges closest to you or signing up for kidwind's online challenge. If you aren't sure if you signed up, please check your email and you should have received an email confirming your spot at Winchester on 12/5 from reyes3ar@jmu.edu

Solar Rules Webinar Recording

Thank you to Kidwind for hosting an excellent webinar reviewing the updated solar rules!

If you missed the webinar, view the recording and slideshow at the links below.

Kidwind for Educators- Harrisonburg Central Library

Saturday, January 25, 2025 9:30 am 11:30 am

Central Library, 174 S. Main Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Join CASE for a FREE STEM program at the Massanutten Central Library in Harrisonburg for hands-on Kidwind activities! Better yet- bring a friend who isn't a coach yet! We'll focus on renewable energy educational activities from the KidWind curriculum. Learn more about how kidwind challenges work and how to prepare.

Professional development certificates will be given to any educator in attendance.

Looking for Kidwind project supplies?

CASE staff has put together a list of supplies we recommend! These materials are used in your starter kit.

Upcoming Webinars from Kidwind

Tinker Time: Blade Design

December 11th 7pm

Each month Kidwind hosts a session taking a deeper dive into a technical component of designing a wind turbine or solar structure for competition, from blade design to gearboxes.

They'll host a few students each month with experience on that topic to share what they’ve learned along the way. All KidWinders are invited – students, educators, coaches, etc.

Spark Session: Solar on Schools

December 18th 7pm

Each month Kidwind hosts a guest to do a deep dive into one element of renewable energy for the KidWind network. Organizers, educators, and students are all invited to join.

This month’s Spark Session will focus on Solar on Schools and feature presentations from the following speakers:

Bob Rice, Hamilton Southeastern Schools

Kristen Keim, Generation 180

Head to Kidwind.org to view future webinars!

Virginia Kidwind Expo- January 11th (FREE)

The Expo is almost one month away! Registration Required- Deadline January 1

Join us at our free Kidwind Expo on January 11th, 2025 10am-2pm (Tunnel Testing 9-10am) at James Madison University Festival Conference and Student Center.

Students and coaches will have the opportunity to learn new skills that can be applied to their solar or wind project.

Professional development certificates will be given to any educator in attendance.

Thanks!

That's all my updates for now. Thanks for all of the great work you do.

Please let me know if you have any feedback or questions from today's update.

Best,

Anna Reyes

K-12 Education Program Manager

Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Energy

James Madison University