2026 BEAR (Business • Engineering • AI • Robotics) Workshops - by ThinkerBox

The BEAR Summer Workshops are hands-on robotics experiences designed to help middle school students build real skills using real hardware. Students don’t just watch — they design, build, code, test, and improve every day.

Robotics with VEX IQ — Beginner

Dates: June 8–12, 2026

This beginner workshop introduces students to robotics and coding in a fun, supportive environment.

Students will:

• Build and program robots using the VEX IQ platform

• Learn sequencing, movement, and basic logic

• Use sensors to make robots react to their environment

• Solve challenges through teamwork and guided activities

No prior experience required.

Robotics with VEX IQ — Intermediate

Dates: June 15–19, 2026

Designed for students with prior VEX IQ experience or who completed the Beginner workshop.

Students will:

• Build more advanced robot mechanisms

• Program decision-making using sensors and conditional logic

• Debug and improve robot performance through iteration

• Compete in higher-level robotics challenges

This workshop pushes students from “following instructions” to thinking like engineers.

Robotics + IoT Foundations (ESP32)

Dates: July 13–17, 2026

This workshop introduces students to connected robotics using the ESP32 microcontroller — the same technology used in smart devices and industrial systems.

Students will:

• Program an ESP32 to read sensors (temperature, motion, light, buttons)

• Connect robots and devices over Wi-Fi

• Send and receive simple data between systems

• Learn how IoT is used in smart homes, factories, and cities

• Integrate ESP32-based sensors with robotic decision making

No prior IoT experience required.
All concepts are taught visually and hands-on.

BEAR is about building confidence through doing.
Students don’t just learn how technology works — they learn how to think, design, and solve problems.