Kiddos and bots: A peek at the biggest VEX IQ youth robotics event in Delmarva

The Delmarva VEX IQ Extravaganza keeps getting bigger, with 49 teams competing this year from Delaware, Maryland and Virginia — with 38 of them from elementary schools in the Brandywine School District (BSD).

All nine of BSD’s elementary schools have VEX IQ programs, which include kits for plastic “beginner” robots, software and curricula. Texas-based VEX is an accessible, low-cost program that allows kids to design, build and program robots with limited mentor involvement. (Not in BSD but want to get your kids involved with a VEX IQ team? Six libraries in New Castle County that have programs, including the Route 9 Innovation Center.)

BSD introduced VEX IQ programming in 2017, said Foster Schucker, chief roboteer of STEM Robotics, the largest VEX organization in Delaware, and “students that participated benefited from improved mathematics performance, increased classroom focus, and positive behavior. The following year, the program doubled in size.”

The March 23 event was held at Springer Middle School, with special guests Gov. John Carney, State Reps. Krista Griffith and Debra Heffernan, State Sen. Laura Sturgeon and, of course, the Delaware State Police’s famous bomb robot.

At the end of the day, teams Claymont Tesla and Claymont Boeing were named Teamwork Champions and will compete in the VEX World Championships this spring along with a VEX EDR (the middle school program that uses metal kits) team from Springer.

Check out some of the photos from the extravaganza, all via BSD’s Facebook page: