The Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) hosts numerous regional competitions throughout the year. Many CAIU teams have advanced to place at state-wide events. The following regional competitions occur annually. 

24 Challenge Competition

When: May 8, 2025, 9:00am - 1:30pm (Grades 4-5) and
May 9, 2025, 9:00am - 1:30pm (Grades 6-8)
Registration Opens: Dec. 3, 2024
Registration Closes: Jan. 31, 2025, 12:00pm (or when 24 teams have registered)
Who: Grades 4-8
Cost: $40 per team
Contact: Jackie Ford, jford@caiu.org

Based on the 24 Challenge® game, this tournament-style competition features tables of four
players, competing in a round-robin format. Separate competitions are offered for students in
Grades 4-5 and Grades 6-8. Learn More >

Governor's STEM Competition

When: May 2025
Team Registration Opens: TBD
Team Registration Closes: TBD
Who: Grades 9-12
Contact: Jackie Ford, jford@caiu.org

The Governor's STEM Competition challenges student teams to research, design, and present a device or project to improve the quality of life for fellow Pennsylvanians. The competition is open to students who attend a public, charter, or private school, a career and technical education center, or are homeschooled in Pennsylvania. Learn More >

KidWind Challenge Jr

When: Feb. 3, 2025
Who: Grades 4-5 and Grades 6-8 (Individual or teams of 2-6 members. Limit of 2 teams per grade from each school.)
Cost: $30 per team
Contact: Jackie Ford, jford@caiu.org

The KidWind Challenge Jr is a hands-on wind turbine design competition for students in grades 4-8. This is a day-of build and test challenge where teams will design, construct, and test their wind turbine, examining the science and technology behind wind power.

K’Nex STEM Design Challenge

When: March 18, 2025, 9:00am - 1:30pm
Registration Opens: Nov. 4, 2024
Registration Closes: Jan. 17, 2025 (or when 20 teams have registered)
Who: Grades 4-8
Cost: $30 per team
Contact: Jackie Ford, jford@caiu.org

The STEM Design Challenge is an engineering design competition for grades 4-8 students. Teams of students are tasked with designing, developing, and implementing a solution to an engineering problem. Students will present their finished product to a panel of judges who will score on creativity, teamwork, and the success of their challenge. The winning team at the regional competition will be eligible for the state competition in May. Register Here >

Media and Design Competition (MaDcom)

When: April 2, 2025 
State Competition: TBD
Who: Grades 6-12
Contact: Jill Neuhard, Ed.D., jneuhard@caiu.org

MaDcom highlights students' application skills, creativity, and knowledge through dynamic 3D designs, animation, digital movies, graphic design, programming, and web page design. Students who participate are able to showcase their creativity, better learn how to convey information, and enhance the learning process. Learn More >

PA Invention Convention

When: Feb. 12, 2025 (PETE&C Hershey Lodge)
Who: Grades K-12 (Individual or teams of up to 4 members.)
Contact: Jackie Ford, jford@caiu.org

The mission of the Pennsylvania Invention Convention is to provide students across Pennsylvania with the opportunity to explore, design, and create inventions that meet the end-user's needs and compete against other students for statewide recognition. Learn More >

Poetry Out Loud

When: Feb. 5, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00pm
Registration Opens: Oct. 10, 2024
Registration Closes: Dec. 13, 2024
Who: Grades 9-12
Contact: Jackie Ford, jford@caiu.org

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students nationwide. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Learn More >

Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Challenge

When: April 22, 2025 (at Millersville University)
PDR Due Date: TBD
Who: Grades 9-12
Contact: Jackie Ford, jford@caiu.org

The Sea Air and Land Challenge is a STEM initiative in which teams of high school or middle school aged students learn about the engineering process through the design and build of a robotic system. The systems are then used to compete in challenges relevant to the Department of Defense which mimic missions encountered by the military, national security agencies and first responders. Learn More >