At Next Robotics, we aim to provide a worry-free experience for parents and an engaging learning environment for our students. Your kid only needs to bring indoor shoes and a water bottle to class. We provide all the necessary robotics parts and equipment, so there's no need for students to bring any additional materials. This ensures that your child can fully focus on learning and exploring the exciting world of robotics without any extra hassle.

Generally speaking, we do not prepare make-up lessons for missed classes at Next Robotics, as our classes are carefully prepared with specific materials and a teach/student ratio. However, we understand that special circumstances may arise, and we are willing to arrange a make-up lesson on a different date or class if certain requirements are met. Please feel free to contact us directly to discuss your child's situation, and we will do our best to accommodate their needs. Our priority is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to fully engage with our robotics programs and experience the benefits of our curriculum.

At Next Robotics, we primarily communicate with our parents through emails. Additionally, you can find our General Course and Club Meet calendar posted on our website, providing easy access to important dates and events. Our goal is to ensure that you stay informed about our offerings and upcoming activities through these channels. If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to stop by or reach out to us via email.

Next Robotics is an organization that focuses on providing robotics education and competitions for elementary students. It is facilitated by the same group of people who founded Western Mechatronics Robotics (WestMech), a non-profit organization that focuses on robotics Education/Competitions and events for students in Grade 7 and up. Both organizations share the same goal of promoting STEM education and competitions and fostering a love for robotics in students, but they operate as separate entities with distinct focuses on their target demographics.

Next Robotics stands out from other robotics education providers for several reasons. Firstly, we specialize in VEX Robotics, which sets us apart as VEX Robotics hosts the largest robotics competition in the world. This allows our students to not only receive top-tier education but also the opportunity to participate in high-stakes, global competitions. Additionally, our instructors are experts in VEX Robotics and are dedicated to providing personalized learning experiences for each student. We prioritize hands-on learning and problem-solving, ensuring that our students develop practical skills and a deep understanding of robotics. Lastly, our curriculum is constantly updated to incorporate the latest advancements in the field, giving our students a competitive edge. At Next Robotics, we are committed to fostering the next generation of robotics enthusiasts and professionals.

Next Robotics offers very affordable programs for children interested in robotics. The courses (meet once a week) and the exclusive club teams (meet twice a week) are all priced at under $300 per month. This pricing structure allows us to make our innovative robotics education accessible to a wide range of families, while still providing high-quality instruction, materials and competitions. Our commitment to affordability reflects our belief that all children should have the opportunity to explore and excel in the exciting field of robotics.

At Next Robotics, our standard policy is that there are no refunds after registration, as our spots are very limited and significant preparation is required in advance. However, we understand that circumstances can vary, and we value the individual situations of our students. Therefore, we are open to discussing credits on a case-by-case basis. If you have a specific situation that you would like to discuss, please don't hesitate to reach out to us, and we will do our best to work with you to find a satisfactory solution.

Each program at Next Robotics Club is designed by modules, with each module consisting of 4 classes. The final class in each module involves a showcase or mini-competition where students can demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have gained. Additionally, every 3 modules make up a season, and we offer four seasons throughout the year: Fall (September-December), Winter (January-March), Spring (April-June), and our popular Summer Camps. This modular and seasonal structure allows students to progress at their own pace and ensures that they have ample opportunities to apply their learning in a fun and engaging way.

Each program is tailored to the specific age group, providing age-appropriate learning, challenges, and opportunities for growth in robotics knowledge and competitions. For Grade 1 and 2, we recommend you to take our Discover Courses. For Grade 3 and 4, we recommend you to take our Explore Courses. For Grade 5 and 6, we recommend you to take our Odyssey (Preparing for VEX competitions) or Adventure course (when competition Couse is not offered). Whether your child is just starting out or already has some experience, these programs are designed to meet them where they are and help them advance in their robotics journey.

At Next Robotics, we operate on a module-based system, encouraging students to join at the beginning of each module, which is class 1 of every 4 classes. Additionally, you may also enroll at the beginning of each season, which falls on Sept 1, Jan 1, and/or April 1. You can find our Course Calendar on our website to see the specific start dates for each module and season. This allows your child to seamlessly integrate into our curriculum and get the most out of their experience with us.

At Next Robotics, we prioritize small class sizes to ensure personalized attention and quality instruction for each student. All courses are designed for 2 students to work on one robot. The class size varies depending on the program: - For our Discover program (Grade 1-2), there is one instructor with one helper for every 8 students in a class. - In the Explore program (Grade 3-4), the class size is kept to one instructor with one helper for every 10 students. - The Adventure program (Grade 5-6) maintains a class size of one instructor with one helper for every 12 students. - The Odyssey program (Grade 5-6) also maintains a class size of one instructor with one helper for every 12 students. We believe that smaller class sizes with a student-to-robot ratio of 2:1 allow our instructors to cater to the individual needs of each student, fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment.

At Next Robotics, we understand the importance of providing a diverse and enriching learning experience for our students. To ensure this, we do not repeat modules within a two-year period. We believe in continually offering new and advanced topics to keep our students engaged and challenged. Additionally, For students under Grade 5 who have been with us for a while and ready to move on to the competitions, we highly recommend registering for our Odyssey course, which is designed for those ready to join our competitive teams. This way, they can further enhance their skills and knowledge in robotics while taking on more advanced challenges.

At Next Robotics, we offer two exciting pathways for your child after Grade 6. The first option is to continue competing in the VEX IQ competition at Next Robotics until Grade 9, at which point they can join our sister club, WestMech, for their Robotics 101 program. After completing Robotics 101, they will have the opportunity to compete in VEX VRC until Grade 12. The second choice is to directly join WestMech for their Robotics 101 program at Grade 7 and then compete in VEX VRC until Grade 12. Both pathways offer a comprehensive and engaging robotics experience, allowing your child to develop their skills, passion and team work spirit for robotics in a supportive and innovative environment. We are committed to providing quality education and mentorship to all students who are enthusiastic about robotics, and we look forward to guiding your child on their exciting journey in the world of robotics at Next Robotics and WestMech.

To join the Next Robotics Club Team, your child would need to complete the Odyssey course, which is a 12-week program designed to provide them with the fundamental skills and knowledge in robotics competitions. Once they have successfully completed the course and are demonstrated team work essentials, they will receive an invitation to join the Club Team. This invitation is extended to those who have demonstrated the dedication, responsibilities, team work spirits and readiness necessary to participate in robotics competitions and represent Next Robotics Club. We believe in nurturing talent and ensuring that all team members are well-prepared for the challenges they will face in the competitive robotics tournaments.

At Next Robotics, teams consist of 2-3 students for regular activities and 3 students for any Vex competitions. The coaches form the teams based on expertise, commitment dates, communications, and chemistry among the students. Students are encouraged to bring their suggestions directly to the coaches rather than ask their parents to direct the communications. This approach ensures that the teams are well-balanced, cohesive, and reflective of the students' input and commitment.

At Next Robotics, we require our club teams to meet twice a week, with team members expected to join at least once every week. Our club meets are scheduled on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with each session lasting for 2 hours. As we prepare for competitions, we may extend these meet times to ensure thorough preparation and practice. This commitment is designed to provide our members with enough regular learning/building/coding and practice opportunities, while also allowing flexibility for their other commitments. We believe that consistent and dedicated participation is key to the success of our club teams and the individual growth of our members.

Generally speaking, there isn't much traveling required for robotics competitions with Next Robotics as we provide ample of internal scrimmage/tournament opportunities. However, we encourage our selected teams to register in BC or Ontario tournament to gain competition experience before our Provincials. In the past, the only travel our teams have done was to Dallas to participate in the World Championships. We prioritize minimizing travel to ensure the convenience of both the students and their families, while providing ample opportunities for competition and skill development.

The major competition dates for Next Robotics include the Provincial's, which are usually held in Calgary during the last weekend of February or the first weekend of March. For teams who won their World's ticket, the Vex World's competition is typically scheduled for the last week of April. For Rapid Relay season, the World's competition will be held in Dallas, TX.

To know more about the Rapid Relay season game rules for VEX IQ 2024-2025, you can visit the official announcement site at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa0B7kNHpg8. This video provides an in-depth explanation of the game rules, scoring, and objectives. Additionally, you can also reach out to Next Robotics directly for any specific questions or clarifications regarding this season game. Parent's understanding of the game rules will promote our students' passion in Robotics in general.

The Robotics Club fee at Next Robotics includes all robotics materials required for the club activities, professional coaching during weekly sessions, and on-site robotics scrimmages. However, the fee does not cover off-site tournament registration fees, travel costs associated with participating in tournaments, and coaching for off-site tournaments. We aim to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for our members within the club, but certain external expenses related to tournaments are not covered by the club fee. We encourage our members to communicate with us and plan accordingly for any off-site tournaments they wish to participate in.