Robotics and Coding STEM Camp 2025!*

Robotics and Coding STEM Camp:  An Exciting Experience for Young Engineers

The Robotics and Coding STEM Camp offers an incredible opportunity for young engineers to dive into the world of robotics and coding in a dynamic and hands-on learning environment. Campers will have the chance to develop valuable engineering and design skills by working on a project that they can continue to grow with over the years.

The camp features two exciting platforms: the VEX IQ Challenge — an engaging robotics competition — and Scratch, a beginner-friendly programming language that encourages creativity and problem-solving. These platforms will help students strengthen their technical abilities and expand their knowledge in both robotics and coding.

One of the best aspects of the camp is the opportunity for collaboration and friendly competition. Working alongside like-minded peers, campers will tackle challenges together, build innovative solutions, and learn the importance of teamwork. Our experienced counselors, who have years of expertise in robotics and coding, will guide them every step of the way to help them unlock their full potential.

Teamwork at Its Best

For the robotics portion, campers will work in pairs. If your child has a friend they would like to team up with, simply let us know when filling out the registration form, and we’ll ensure they’re paired together.

VEX IQ Challenge

The VEX IQ Challenge gives students a unique opportunity to explore engineering in a collaborative environment!

A low barrier to entry. VEX IQ is a no-tools system that allows students to prototype ideas quickly - as fast as they can snap them together. Students of all interest levels quickly become wrapped up in the latest challenge. The VEX IQ system was designed with young engineers in mind. They can go from nothing to driving a robot in less than an hour.

Rapid prototyping and sharing of ideas. The best ideas are often copied and improved. The diversity of designs within the classroom and around the world continues to encourage students to revamp and rebuild their designs. 

Competitions. Students can compete throughout the year with their creations. We will end each week with a competition as well! There are about a thousand official competitions worldwide every year. We host three competitions of our own here at Westwood, followed by state, national, and world championships. 

Job skills for the future. The VEX IQ Challenge is team-based, and students work in groups to complete a robot for the yearly challenge. Collaboration, documentation, and time management are essential to making sure their projects are successful...

And done on time!

Learn more:  https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq

Scratch 3.0

SCRATCH is an innovative visual tool that introduces students to coding concepts in a fun and approachable way—no need to worry about semicolons or syntax errors! With SCRATCH, children can explore how programs work and understand key programming principles, such as loops, multitasking, and conditionals, all while building interactive projects.

By using SCRATCH, students lay a strong foundation for future studies in computer science, without even realizing it! It's a powerful way to engage young minds in logical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

In today's world, computer science is as essential as learning a foreign language—especially for the 21st century. Just like mastering any language, the earlier children start, the easier it becomes for them to harness the full potential of technology in the future!

Learn more:  https://scratch.mit.edu/ 

Camp information

Every week is a reboot:  Every Monday we restart the projects and we end each week with a friendly competition!  Students can mix and match different weeks.  

Groups:  The students are put in groups of 2 to ensure that they will have a hand in every aspect of building, programming, and driving their robot!

Keeping the robots:  If your child will be on a school team next year, they can ask their school to bring a kit so that they can take the bot home when they are done.  Or, if you want to buy them a kit they can take it with them to use at tournaments throughout the year.  (Please ask for details before you jump the gun on this!)

Beginner Week (Entering grades 3 - 5 next year):  Great for elementary students with no experience with VEX IQ or SCRATCH, preferably students who will be entering grades 3 - 5.  Beginner students can start in any week but will have the best experience in the beginner week with their peers.  Students this week will build the "hero" bot that comes with the new game.  

Beginner Week - July 7 - July 11

Competition Weeks (Entering grades 4 - 8 next year):  For all students, but the projects will get more advanced in the later weeks.  New middle school students should start with Week 2 for the best experience but can join other weeks as fits with your schedule.  

Competition Week 1 - July 14 - 18

Competition Week 2 - July 21 - 25

Competition Week 3 - July 28 - Aug 1

Where:  3215 NW 15 Ave, Gainesville, FL 32605

When:  Daily 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

Cost Per Week: $330

Daily camp agenda:

9:00 Morning session starts

12:00 Break for lunch

1:00 Afternoon session starts

4:00 Pick up!

Gainesville STEM Inc is NOT affiliated with the Alachua County School Board or Westwood Middle School.

Contact Us:

GainesvilleSTEM@gmail.com - 561 463 8641

*Note from the title

We realize that 2025!  is:  
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This is not the current year.  We apologize for any confusion.