In June, a unique tech camp for teens took place in Dnipro. The NGO HURTOM, with support from Nova Ukraine and in partnership with NGO Association Noosphere, organized the VEX Robotics Camp for local school students.
For four weeks, kids aged 8 to 14 built robots, learned the basics of programming, and took on the VEX “Ocean Exploration” mission. Working in four teams, they went through the full process — from getting to know each other and exploring the task, to completing challenges and presenting their projects. Along the way, they also practiced teamwork, leadership, and different roles within a group.
The young innovators built robot-heroes, programmed them for underwater tasks, rescued clams, delivered pearls, repaired pipelines, tested, calibrated, and showcased their creations.
As part of the camp, mentors ran an experiment: they compared boys’, girls’, and mixed teams. Boys turned out to be the fastest, showing initiative and boldness in “emergency” situations. Girls stood out for their focus, persistence, and strong programming skills, while also making big progress in teamwork. Mixed teams proved the most flexible — they adapted quickly, solved problems, and worked carefully and thoughtfully.
Every participant left with a certificate, gifts, smiles, and new friends — and hopefully, a lasting interest in robotics.
