Description
REP: Applied Robotics & Mechanical Engineering
Transform passive screen time into active mechanical intuition! From screen-free spatial logic in REP 1 to multi-motor autonomous robotics in REP 4, our spiral curriculum prepares students for competitive robotics, engineering mastery, and real-world innovation.
Program Specifications
Lab Format
1-hour weekly in-person lab combining physical hardware, gear ratios, and code.
Target Ages
Capital District kids ages 6–14+, scaffolded across 4 progressive skill tiers.
Strict 8:1 Ratio
Capped at 8 students per lab to guarantee direct, expert coaching and pair collaboration.
Semester Term
12-week semester: 11 guided robotics labs plus 1 dedicated Innovation & Makeup Lab Week.
The 4-Tier Robotics Progression
Scaffolded training built to develop spatial reasoning, mechanical execution, and algorithmic thinking.
Foundational Robotics & Screen-Free Logic
Ages 6–8 | Screen-Free Tactical Play
Students build LEGO®-compatible motorized bots and master the robotic cycle ("Think, Process, Act") using physical logic cards—zero screen time required.
Interactive Robotics & Intro to Microcontrollers
Ages 6–8 | Prerequisite: REP 1
Transitions from screen-free logic cards to digital app-based block coding, taking command of programmable microcontrollers and dynamic sensor feedback.
Foundations of Robotics & Mechanisms
Ages 8–12 | Mechanical Advantage & Sensors
Engineers simple mechanisms, drivetrains, gear ratios, and autonomous navigation using touch, color, and ultrasonic sensor inputs.
Advanced LEGO Mechanics & Systems
Ages 10–14 | Capstone System Integration
Tackles complex Technic link-gear mechanisms, multi-stage lifters, data variables, and multi-subsystem automated challenges.
Explore the REP Curriculum
Select a program tier to inspect core skills, projects, and learning objectives.
Build a Complete STEAM Ecosystem
Combine core analytical enrichment with specialized robotics, cutting-edge AI mastery, and open studio time.
SEP | STEM Enrichment Program
Ages 6–14+The cornerstone of creative problem solving and analytical thinking. Students integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) to explore fundamental principles, cultivate intellectual curiosity, and learn how to solve hard problems with confidence.
REP | Robotics Enrichment Program
Ages 6–14Hands-on mechanical engineering and applied robotics. Students master physical mechanisms, gear ratios, sensor integration, and autonomous programming as they build functional robotic systems to conquer complex engineering challenges.
AIP | Artificial Intelligence Program
Ages 9–14Empower your child to become an AI creator, not just a consumer. A comprehensive journey from machine learning fundamentals to ethical AI design. Students build and train real AI models using cutting-edge hardware and real-world data sets.
Project Studio | Tech Club
Wednesdays 4:00 PM – 6:15 PM | Ages 8–14Exclusive to enrolled STEAMwhiz students! A flexible 2.25-hour open lab where kids convert lab concepts into passion projects. A high-value, "come and go as you please" space to collaborate, experiment with lab technology, and build original innovations.
The STEAMwhiz Core Framework
We don't just teach tools—we train the "Academic Athlete."
Mental Toughness & "Hard Fun"
Passive consumption (TikTok, video games) breeds cognitive brittleness. We replace cheap dopamine with the deep dopamine of solving hard problems. In our lab, failure isn't a dead end—it's data gathering during a "Locker Room Moment."
Portfolios Over Standardized Tests
The 2035 Innovation Economy doesn't reward rote memorization. Our students build tangible Portfolios of Work—3D CAD files, compiled code bases, and functional hardware prototypes that prove real-world capability.
Led by Master Coaches
Academic Athlete Leadership
Our labs are directed by Co-Founder Allie Pulecio, a master educator with over 20 years of STEM curriculum experience. Curriculum architecture is spearheaded by Co-Founder Dr. Javier F. Pulecio (Dr. J), who holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Sciences and brings years of experience as a physicist and engineer at premier research institutions and Fortune 100 technology companies. Together, they eliminate cognitive brittleness and mentor students toward lifelong analytical mastery.
Frequently Asked Questions
REP is built for students ages 6–14+ who want to design, build, and program real physical robots. REP 1 and REP 2 offer tactile, hands-on building for younger engineers (ages 6–8), while REP 3 and REP 4 take older students into advanced mechanics, sensors, and autonomous programming.
Students master mechanical engineering principles (gears, levers, drivetrains, traction), sensor integration (touch, color, ultrasonic), and algorithmic logic. They work in pairs, rotate partners to build collaborative muscle, document progress in engineering journals, and tackle friendly end-of-semester robotics challenges.
REP is the primary training ground for competitive robotics teams (such as VEX IQ). Through REP, students gain the structural engineering intuition, motor speed/torque calculations, and autonomous scripting skills necessary to excel in competitive e-sports robotics arenas.
Every 12-week semester includes a designated Innovation Lab Week. Students who missed a lab session utilize this time to complete their projects. Students with full attendance use it as a bonus lab to push their portfolio projects further under instructor guidance.
Full refunds are available for unstarted future semesters provided written notice is submitted at least two weeks prior to the start date. Because materials and strict 8:1 instructor staffing are locked in advance, active in-progress semesters are non-refundable. Read the complete policy here.
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