Event Recap - July 25th & 26th, 2024LEGO Racer STEM Night at Arena StemA Tremendous Success with 64 Participants!
Arena STEM and the 501c3 nonprofit STEMEPA recently hosted an incredible LEGO Racer STEM Night at 950 Industrial Blvd, Southampton PA. With an impressive turnout of 64 participants across two identical sessions, the event proved to be an extraordinary success that combined competitive spirit with educational exploration. Our young engineers built, coded, and raced LEGO cars while developing critical STEM skills in a fun and engaging environment.
Thursday, July 25
Our first evening saw tremendous energy as participants formed teams and began the exciting process of designing, building, and racing their LEGO racers. The atmosphere was electric with friendly competition and collaborative problem-solving as teams navigated the challenging obstacle course.
Friday, July 26
Our second evening replicated the same successful format with equal enthusiasm. New participants experienced the thrill of the racing tournament, with many ingenious designs making their way through our obstacle course. The competitive spirit was matched only by the joy of learning.
Tournament Results
Both evenings featured exciting tournament brackets as participants navigated a challenging obstacle course that tested their engineering skills and coding abilities. Each session culminated in thrilling final rounds that had everyone on the edge of their seats!
Outstanding Achievements
- Speed Champions: Several teams developed incredibly fast and precise vehicles that navigated the course with remarkable efficiency
- Design Innovators: We saw impressive creativity in vehicle designs, from streamlined racers to robust all-terrain vehicles
- Coding Masters: Some teams demonstrated exceptional programming skills, creating sophisticated algorithms for navigation
- Problem Solvers: Many participants showed remarkable adaptability, quickly modifying their designs when faced with obstacles
Event By The Numbers
64
Total Participants
2
Exciting Evenings
16
Teams per Night
100%
Fun Had
What Made It Special
Using the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 & LEGO® Education WeDo 2.0, participants embraced the challenge of building and coding their own LEGO cars. The hands-on experience brought out creativity and fostered teamwork, while developing crucial STEM skills in a fun and engaging environment.
While the event was designed with elementary school students in mind, we were thrilled to see participants of all ages joining in. The support from Council Rock School District and the mentorship provided by Council Rock high school students created a supportive learning environment for everyone.
Participant Experiences
My son had a great time here! He loves working with LEGOs and seeing the new moving engines really made him curious. Thank you so much for hosting the event!
- Parent of a 3rd grader
I loved racing and customizing my car. We learned how to make it turn better when we hit obstacles and we made it look like Sonic.
- 4th grade participant
Key Activities
LEGO Car Building and Coding
Participants engaged in both engineering and computer science, assembling their cars from physical LEGOs and coding them using the intuitive tablet platform. The creativity on display was remarkable!
Obstacle Course Challenge
After building and coding their cars, kids navigated an exciting obstacle course designed to test their creations' agility and functionality. The competition was fierce but friendly, with designs ranging from speedy racers to robust all-terrain vehicles.
Interactive Learning
Throughout both evenings, students worked and collaborated in groups based on age/grade, with cooperation and creativity heavily encouraged. We witnessed remarkable growth in teamwork, leadership, and communication skills.
Arena STEM Experience
Participants had the opportunity to explore different activity zones at Arena STEM, including immersive VR experiences, additional LEGO creations, drone piloting, and designing self-built racing car tracks. The state-of-the-art facilities provided the perfect backdrop for this exciting STEM adventure.
Event Success
With 64 participants across our two identical evening sessions, the event exceeded our expectations. Both nights maintained the same high level of enthusiasm and engagement from all participants, demonstrating the tremendous appetite for hands-on STEM learning in our community. The decision to run the same format on consecutive evenings allowed us to accommodate more participants while ensuring everyone received individual attention and guidance.
The identical format on both evenings proved to be a winning formula, with each session featuring its own exciting moments and breakthrough achievements. We're already looking forward to planning our next collaborative event!
Event Photos
Participants each night experienced the thrill of competitive STEM learning
Why This Event Matters
Events like our LEGO Racer STEM Night are crucial for developing 21st-century skills in young learners. By combining play with structured learning, we create memorable experiences that spark ongoing interest in STEM fields. The competitive yet collaborative atmosphere encourages children to think critically, problem-solve, and work together—all essential skills for future success.
Tournament Structure
Both evenings featured identical tournament structures that kept participants engaged and excited:
- Design Phase: Teams had 45 minutes to build and program their LEGO racers
- Testing Phase: 15 minutes for test runs and adjustments
- Preliminary Rounds: Each team completed two timed runs through the obstacle course
- Bracket Competition: Top performers advanced through an elimination bracket
- Final Championship: The two best-performing teams faced off in an exciting final race
Special Thanks
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to:
- Council Rock School District for their ongoing support
- The dedicated high school student volunteers who provided mentorship
- Arena STEM staff for their expertise and state-of-the-art facilities
- All the parents who encouraged their children's participation
- And most importantly, our 64 enthusiastic participants!
Stay Connected
Thank you to everyone who participated and made this event such a tremendous success! Follow us on social media and check our website for announcements about future events. We can't wait to see you at our next STEM adventure!