Outreach

Robotics is not only a fast-growing career path–it’s also great fun for all ages! Interested in robotics activities for your school or other youth organization? Email RoboticsOutreach@mail.wvu.edu. We are excited to work with you!

Here are just some of the ways that WVU Robotics connects West Virginia’s youth to robotics:

Field Trips to Statler College

WVU Robotics works closely with Statler College Outreach to lead robotics activities for K-12 students who visit Statler College. Students may build LEGO robots, code drones to fly through obstacles, or guide rolling robots through mazes—all while learning about opportunities at the College of Engineering. Students may also get to meet WVU Robotics faculty and students, who volunteer to help inspire the next generation of STEM enthusiasts and engineers.

Classroom and School Visits

If you can’t visit us, we can bring robots to you! We fly drones in school gyms, build LEGO cars in classrooms, and bring robots to career fairs and STEM festivals. Whether your focus is coding, building, engineering design, or teamwork, we’ll work with you to design a program that suits your students. Email RoboticsOutreach@mail.wvu.edu to schedule a hands-on WVU Robotics activity for your school, youth organization, or after-school program. There is no charge for WVU Robotics outreach events.

Special Events

Whether we’re driving a rover at the West Virginia Capitol, celebrating science at NASA Day, or supporting college-wide outreach events, WVU Robotics shows up for our community. For example, MMAE faculty and students have helped dozens of Scouts earn badges at WVU Merit Badge University, an annual event that has become an important outreach opportunity for the department. Each year, we welcome Scouts to explore the many mechanical, materials, aerospace, and robotics labs on campus, while they study the engineering field of their choice.

Statler College Engineering Challenge Camps

Each summer, robotics faculty and staff develop robotics activities for Statler College’s Engineering Challenge Camps . These day camps are designed to help students learn the fun and exciting ways that engineering and computer science impact our lives through hands-on learning. Robotics activities are popular each year with elementary, middle, and high school students. In fact, we are launching a new, week-long robotics camp for elementary students in 2025!

Supporting Youth Robotics Competitions

In addition to WVU’s own successful robotics teams, WVU Robotics is proud to support competitive youth robotics programs, because we know that robotics programs spark lifelong interest in STEM and develop fundamental engineering skills. Faculty, staff, and students volunteer regularly as judges and scorekeepers for local robotics competitions, in partnership with the West Virginia Robotics Alliance. Each year, the Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering (MMAE) hosts a VEX Robotics Competition, which attracted more than 50 middle and high school teams in 2025. We also sponsor local robotics teams.

Connect With Us

Interested in robotics activities for your school, youth organization or event? Email RoboticsOutreach@mail.wvu.edu to reach a robotics educator. We are excited to work with you!