For Gilbert kids grades three through eighth who are interested in science, electronics, or robotics, it is time to start thinking about putting together a team for this year’s VEX IQ Robotics Challenge.
The Challenge is an annual event sponsored by VEX Robotics. Children are taught how to program robots and work together as a team. If they join the challenge every year, they eventually learn the electronics and hardware that underlie a modern robot, which can lead to a career path in engineering design or a similar sector.
In Gilbert, the challenge is run by VEX employees in conjunction with the Robotics Education 7 Competition Foundation. Unlike other challenges, parents are welcome to participate, as teachers, advisors, or even as teammates, so technically minded older folks are welcome to get hands on with robots as well. Those that are interested can call and get an explanatory pamphlet.
The Challenge is also supported by Arizona’s Science, Technology Engineering and Math network, which seeks to promote interest in such sciences in students of all ages and genders. Interested parties may wish to engage in flyer printing to promote their team.
The Challenge will kick off Saturday May 5 at 10:00 am and will take place at East Valley Robotics Academy, LLC, 2061 South Gilbert Road, Gilbert. There is a registration fee of $5 per student.
