Vex IQ Robotics Extracurriculuar Activities

VEX IQ is a robot construction system that can help students develop a variety of skills, including:

• STEM skills: VEX IQ helps students learn about science, engineering, programming, sensors, and automation. 
• Critical thinking: VEX IQ helps students develop computational thinking skills that are useful in the workplace and everyday life. 
• Creativity: VEX IQ encourages students to be creative and imagine what they can build. 
• Teamwork: VEX IQ helps students learn to work together in groups. 
• Problem-solving: VEX IQ helps students develop problem-solving skills. 
• Soft skills: VEX competitions help students learn soft skills like communication, collaboration, and time management. 

VEX IQ is suitable for students from elementary to middle school and doesn't require any prior knowledge of robotics. The system includes snap-together plastic pieces, programmable sensors, and user-friendly software. Each kit also comes with a hand tool to make assembly and disassembly easier. 

VEX Robotics also offers competitions for students to participate in. These competitions are held year-round at the regional, state, and national levels, and culminate in the VEX Robotics World Championship each April.

Vex V5 Robotics Extracurricular Activities

VEX V5 offers several benefits for STEM education, including: developing critical problem-solving skills, promoting computational thinking, fostering teamwork and collaboration, providing a flexible and powerful hardware system with versatile mechanical components, enabling hands-on learning through building and programming robots, and aligning with educational standards through structured STEM Labs that can be adapted to different classrooms; making it a valuable tool for students to learn essential skills for the 21st century workforce while engaging in creative design and experimentation. 

Key benefits of VEX V5:

• Accessible for beginners: The V5 system is designed to be user-friendly, with intuitive programming and easily understandable mechanics, making it suitable for students with varying levels of robotics experience. 
• Flexible design: The wide range of VEX parts allows for diverse robot builds, catering to various project needs and encouraging creative problem-solving. 
• Wireless programming and control: Students can program their robots using VEXcode V5 software and control them wirelessly via the V5 controller, facilitating rapid testing and iteration. 
• Integrated STEM curriculum: VEX provides comprehensive STEM Labs with standards-aligned activities, covering concepts like mechanical design, programming, and sensor integration. 
• Competition opportunities: VEX Robotics competitions provide a platform for students to apply their skills in a challenging and engaging environment, promoting teamwork and strategic thinking. 
• Real-world applications: The V5 system can be used to model real-world robotic systems, helping students understand how robotics principles are applied in various industries. 
• Computational thinking development: The programming aspect of VEX V5 encourages students to develop key computational thinking skills like logic, algorithms, and debugging. 
• Collaboration and communication: Working on a robotics project with peers fosters collaboration, communication, and critical thinking skills. 

Vex Summer Camps

VEX Robotics summer camps offer a variety of engaging Vex robotics curriculum opportunities, including:

• STEM learning: Campers can explore STEM concepts through hands-on activities like building and coding. 
• Creative problem solving: Campers can learn to solve problems and real-world scenarios through teamwork and independent work. 
• Making friends: Campers can meet new friends with similar interests and build camaraderie. 
• Developing confidence: Campers can try new things and learn about themselves in a supportive environment. 
• Learning life skills: Campers can apply what they learn to solve problems and explore niche subjects. 
• Creating memories: Campers can form unforgettable moments with new friends and mentors. 

The 2025 Summer Camp schedule will be released in February of 2025.

Family and Community Engagement with Vex Tournaments

There are many opportunities to volunteer at Cabarrus County VEX Robotics events, including:

• Referees: Keep things fair 
• Emcee: Keep things exciting 
• Queuer: Keep things on schedule 
• Pit Admin Assistant: Help teams and guests with questions 
• Practice Field Official: Oversee practice fields and ensure teams have access to practice time 
• Scorekeeper Referee: Record scores using the TM Mobile app or paper score sheets 
• Team Check-in: Welcome teams as they arrive 

You can find the CCS Vex Event Calendar by clicking here and sign up to volunteer at Vex tournaments by clicking here!