K-12 REcharge Labs
For six years my role as the Managing Director was to spearhead wind and solar education across the nation. REcharge Labs provides opportunities and resources for learners to creatively explore wind and solar power. REcharge engages and inspires today’s K-12 students, educators, makers, and tinkerers to become the renewable energy leaders of tomorrow.
Teacher Training
Teacher training was a large part of REcharge Lab’s mission to teach the world about wind and solar power. We led and managed professional development workshops that prepared 3rd-12th grade educators to teach hands-on wind and solar activities. Each year REcharge hosted a week long teacher training called the REcharge Academy.
Lessons
REcharge Labs worked with our national network of 320 educators in order to develop lessons that fit a range of educational standards, time frames, settings and learning goals. Lessons are designed to fit a budget and often use inexpensive materials found at home or school. Nine wind and solar lessons are free and accessible online.
Kits
REchage Labs kits provide everything needed to teach small groups or large classrooms about wind and solar power, Tailored around the engineering design process, learners build functional wind and solar powered projects with their hands. Kits contain open-ended prompts that inspire learners to be creative, innovative and resourceful.
About
REcharge Labs was developed out of the educator training program from the KidWind Project. The company is co-founded and co-directed by Asia Ward and Michael Arquin. REcharge Labs builds off of the expertise, resources, and tools that KidWind developed in order to focus on training educators about all renewables.
Experienced: Backed by over a decade of experience providing educators the knowledge and tools to successfully teach intimidating energy concepts
Broad reaching: REcharge Labs programming has been executed in 24 US states and in Canada, reaching over 170,000 students, educators and community members every year
Connected: REcharge Labs has trained 320 REcharge Instructors in 36 US states and worldwide, allowing us to do work in communities globally
Trusted: Relied upon by teachers as the best resource for renewable energy education for their classrooms
Case Studies of Major Partners
GE Renewable Energy
Global wind turbine and solar panel manufacturer
Hosted KidWind/REcharge Labs events
Funded teacher training workshops
National sponsor of the National KidWind Challenge
Impact: 100 educators, 5000 students per year.
Contribution: $50K
EDP Renewables
International wind farm developer
Funded teacher training workshops
hosted KidWind/REcharge Labs events
Funded REcharge Academy scholarships
Distributed REcharge Labs products
Trained entire US EDP staff with REcharge Labs
Impact: 500 educators, 25,000 students per year
Contribution: $250K
Iowa Governor’s STEM Scale Up
The state of Iowa selected KidWind/REcharge Labs as a program for the 2014 and 2015 Iowa Governor’s STEM Scale Up.
Supported statewide teacher training workshops
Funded distribution of REcharge Labs products
Funded custom online interactive challenges
Impact: 400 teachers, 10,000 students per year
Grant Total: $320K
WPPI Energy
WPPI Energy is a not-for-profit, regional power company serving locally owned electric utilities in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa.
Funded teacher training workshop
Purchased and distributed REcharge labs products
Impact: 20 educators, 350 students per year
Contribution: $7K
Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum
Interactive STEM museum and educational hub, providing informal learning opportunities in and out of the classroom throughout Michigan
Hired REcharge to consult on the development of 10 wind related activities, 3 mobile exhibits, and 5 event activities
Funded educator training workshop
Funded two regional conference event booths
Purchased and distributed REcharge labs products
Impact: 30 educators, 25,000 learners per year
Contribution: $15K