Camp: Bots, Brains & Battle: Combat & Competitive Robotics

Design. Build. Test. Compete.

This immersive, full-week robotics camp is designed for students who want more than a one-off build. Each day follows a structured, intentional rhythm that mirrors how real engineers work—balancing learning, hands-on building, testing, competition, and reflection. Students spend extended time with experienced instructors, professional-grade tools, and carefully designed challenges that build in complexity throughout the week.

Every day begins with arrival and a focused morning work cycle, where students learn new concepts through short lectures, demonstrations, and guided discussion before immediately applying them through hands-on building and programming. After a supervised lunch and outdoor break, students return for an afternoon work cycle centered on testing, competition, redesign, and refinement—reinforcing the idea that iteration, not perfection, drives real engineering progress.

Throughout the week, students also hear from an industry professional working in robotics and engineering, providing real-world context and helping students connect their work to future pathways. Lunch and snacks are included daily, and outdoor time is intentionally built into the schedule to support focus, energy, and balance.

• Structured daily schedule with guided instruction and extended build time
• Experienced SPARKGROUNDS educators and small-group support
• All robotics equipment, materials, lunch, and snacks included
• Daily outdoor break time and supervised transitions
• Industry guest speaker and final student showcase

Daily Focus & Progression

• Day 1: Sphero & Competitive Robotics Foundations
  Students begin with Sphero robots to explore core programming concepts, movement, sensors, and competition strategies while building confidence and teamwork skills.
• Day 2: VEX IQ Build & Programming
  Teams transition to VEX IQ, learning mechanical design, drivetrain construction, and programming as they prepare for structured engineering challenges.
• Day 3: VEX IQ Competition Day
  Students refine their robots and compete in mission-based challenges, analyzing performance and making targeted improvements.
• Day 4: Combat Robotics — BattleBot Antweight Design
  Teams design and build custom combat-style antweight robots, focusing on strategy, durability, and controlled, friendly competition.
• Day 5: BattleBots, Refinement & Final Showcase
  Students compete, refine designs, and present their robots in a final showcase, explaining design choices and reflecting on what they learned.

This camp is welcoming to both beginners and experienced builders, with challenges that scale in complexity and allow students to push themselves at their own level. By the end of the week, students don’t just leave with robots—they leave with a deeper understanding of engineering, teamwork, and how ideas become working machines.

Guardians are required to complete our waiver before the first club meeting--if they haven't already done so for a different SPARKGROUNDS event. All events are led by professionally trained and insured staff who have passed a Level 2 background check. Students can withdraw from a class series at any time simply by emailing us and prorated refunds are always provided automatically.

This SPARKGROUNDS event is available for direct pay through Florida's Step Up FES-EO, UA, and PEP scholarships. Find events in the Marketplace by selecting 'find providers' and searching for 'SPARKGROUNDS.'