I have been running a weekly robot camp for my grandson and four other teenagers for about a year. It’s been very loose but we are ready to get serious. When I look at the VEX web site, there is tons of info but it leaves a lot of questions unanswered about how to start. If you are familiar with VEX or other group, please reply and I’ll PM my phone number to you. A conversation with a human would probably get me on track to understand the process!
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It’s been a good…6 years or so now, but I used to participate so might have some info.
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Check out FIRST Robotics Competition | FIRST
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FIRST is an excellent program. I have been involved for about 12 years. It ranges from elementary school (FLL) through middle and high school aged kids (FTC & FRC).
You might also look at BEST. What I really like about BEST is that the barrier to entry is virtually non-existent. They even loan you most of the parts and components. It is also very much a ‘level playing field’ in terms of the rules, so is very much about problem solving rather than how much money you have to buy stuff.
BEST is a great introduction to the entire robotics ‘scene’.
My first ever rookie team participated in BEST and FRC their first year.
I would not recommend going straight to FRC since the costs and complexity can be a bit overwhelming initially, but certainly watch matches/competitions (YouTube and preferably in person during the season) to get the kids REALLY excited about their next steps.
FTC is a lot of fun and manageable by a lot of teams. We even saw one team that was a Grandmother and her granddaughter & a few friends.
The community spirit around all the programs is really fantastic too. You will never be short of kids & teams wanting to help you.
Many companies also directly sponsor/support/mentor robotics teams too so see if you have any friends that have programs at their work place.
e.g. Texas Instruments has probably 100+ people working with many different teams all across the country. Mentors ‘get paid’ for their volunteer hours and there are lots of grants available etc…
Be prepared though… it is soooo much fun you might find yourself becoming completely consumed 
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@bpamplin I highly recommend FIRST Robotics over VEX. If you want to run an independent team FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is probably the way to go:
If you grandson and friends are interested in slightly more challenging format joining an FIRST Robotics Competition team is probably the way to go. FRC team 2714 BBQ meets here in Carrollton is and is open to students from any school:
If your grandson and friends is in a different part of the metroplex another community team might be a better fit like @Matthew_Thomas’s team in Richardson.
If you would like to meet in person and talk about all the options I would be happy to do so. Full disclosure I have been involved in competitive robotics programs for over 15 years and am employed by REV Robotics, one the main suppliers for FIRST Robotics (Founded by @RoboGreg). I am currently a mentor for FRC team 1745 The P-51 Mustangs along with @budman.
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Looks like you missed a good event to get answers:
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I will admit I like FIRST far more than VEX, however VEX in my experience has a much lower cost of entry and can have much smaller teams.
I usually recommend robotics groups give VEX a try for the first year/season, and then try FRC/FTC/etc if they can commit the time and resources.
My old club did both FRC and VEX, and we used VEX to get new students into robotics/practice with designing/building before the expensive FRC competition. We’d also end up mocking up some of our FRC bots using VEX parts just because it was an easy PoC
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FTC can be done for similar cost to VEX, admittedly the skills ceiling for FTC is a lot higher than VEX so being competitive is more of a challenge.
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The class so far has been extremely informal and I decided to move it up a notch by acquiring some serious parts. From there, it was logical to look at competitions as a possible goal. I’ve spent most time looking at VEX but will now certainly check out FIRST. It’s not certain that we are going to proceed and the decision and direction will be up to parents who will be funding this. You can help me make the case for your suggestions. A couple of families have had good experiences with VEX.
They are going to be very cost conscious. Help me get a feel for what costs are likely to be for FIRST vs VEX if the plan is to have a lot of fun and compete a few times. Is it reasonable to expect participate with one the basic kits or is it likely to need many additions? The goal this year is have a decent entry for learning and fun.
I understand the VEX V5 kits are $1,150 and $1,900. Signing up for the season is $200 with registration for specific events running around $100 each. Is this reasonable? Aside from travel, what additional costs are we likely to see.
As I compose this, I see @jsnowfreedman just suggested VEX the first year then changing to FIRST. Any thoughts since we are sensitive to cost?
@frank_lima - Yeah! I want to meet. Will forward phone number via PM.
@Bill - I was looking forward to the competition but life interfered. I did attend last year and have joined DPRG.
I understand. Three days ago I decided to research this subject. Being retired, it has sucked up all my time! Fascinating subject!
@frank_lima - Certainly for the first year, the goal is not really winning. It’s getting into the arena, having fun, watching the big boys and looking at what to do for next year.
I cannot speak to FTC or some of the other first competitions as I never participated in them, however we probably spent upwards of 12k$/year on FRC, not including travel.
If I recall for single event reg I’m FRC it’s 6k$. This does come with a lot of parts, but is still pricy. FTC and the others might be cheaper, I wouldn’t know as well.
VEX programming is also far far easier overall - FRC jumps up to formal programming. Again can’t speak for FTC/etc.
Many FIRST teams (and VEX) teams reach out for sponsors to help fund them. There are a lot of companies that are willing to throw a thousand or two at teams to help students learn/grow with these.
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Sorry to come in late, but I teach middle school robotics with VEX and co-coached a team for competition. I know a lot of folks are talking up FIRST, but I’ve only used VEX professionally so I don’t know the difference.
I’d be glad to answer any questions!
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@dariosaur - You are not too late at all. I will send my contact info to you by PM and have questions both about robotics competition in general and teaching students in grades 7-10.
If our little group can get the money together, we are very likely to go the FIRST FTC direction. This was driven when I met with @frank_lima and another employee of REV Robotics who mentor for the Richardson Pearce HS robotics teams. They compete in FRC and FTC. I volunteered today to join the mentor team at Pearce which is in my neighborhood.
Both of my kids did VEX, FTC (First Tech Challenge) and FRC (First Robotic Comp) in high school. I mentored Vex/FTC and FRC high school teams as well. Vex and FTC are 18x18x18", <50lbs or so robots, and play on a 12 x 12’ field.
They are very similar programs. My kids liked all three programs. But liked FRC a little more because the robots were big and played on big field. FRC is 2’ x3’ x3’ 120 lbs robots and play on a 27x54’ field. All three are programs are excellent. One difference in VEX and FTC/FRC (at least 10 years ago) was the adults were not allowed to assemble the robot. In FTC they may.
But be careful - these programs are very addicitive - Both my kids were spending 20 to 40 hours a week on robotic in season and I was spending 10-15 hours a week. But it was fun, interesting and I got to spend alot of quality time with my kids.
Because of the robotics programs in high school, both my kids became mechanical enginnering majors in college and got jobs in engineering. One of them designs and builds robots for a living and the other works for a wiring assembly company.
Both went through the engineering design, build and test phases about 8 times in four years. And they both learned to CAD. Companies they interviewed with were blown away that students could get that kind of real world experience in HS. And really liked the fact that they didn’t have to teach cad.
One other thing - if you have a son/daughter that is interested in programming - VEX, FTC and FRC are great places to get practice real world experience programming as well in high school. They don’t have to be involving in the robot build side at all if they don’t want to.
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