Kids Invent Stuff, in collaboration with UTC Warrington and Experiential Robotics, has successfully concluded a groundbreaking pilot program aimed at inspiring young minds in STEM. The Robot Pageant, a three-month initiative, engaged over 50 primary school children in the exciting world of robotics and engineering.

The program kicked off on June 5th at Warrington Youth Zone with a hands-on workshop led by Kids Invent Stuff inventors and YouTube stars, Ruth Amos and Shawn Brown. Children built their initial robot base using Experiential Robotics kits and participated in various STEM-focused activities, including Tinkercad workshops, car building, and robot racing.

Over the following four weeks, students worked diligently on their robot designs, incorporating recycled materials and leveraging the power of micro:bits for programming. They received mentorship from engineering students at UTC Warrington, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The project culminated in a thrilling final judging day on July 10th, where students showcased their innovative creations. A panel of esteemed judges from UKRI, Sellafield, Jacobs, and Gulliver’s Valley Theme Park Resorts were amazed by the children’s ingenuity and problem-solving skills. From jam-spreading robots to recycling machines, the young inventors demonstrated a deep understanding of robotics and a passion for engineering.

“The robot pageant has always been an idea of mine and Shawn’s that we’ve wanted to bring to life,” said Ruth Amos, Inventor & Director at Kids Invent Stuff. “It teaches young children the basics of robotics, coding and inventing in a fun way that has never been seen before. I’m really proud of the pilot programme, it was amazing to see so many young people inspired and to work in partnership with Experiential Robotics and UTC Warrington. We were blown away by the entries and they were all worthy winners.”

The Robot Pageant is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of early STEM education. Kids Invent Stuff plans to work with Warrington UTC and Experiential Robotics to expand the program to more schools and UTCs in the coming year, continuing to nurture the next generation of engineers and innovators.

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