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Robotics Competitions, Signature Event, Uncategorized

VEX Night At the Museum Venue Change

The venue’s changed, but the game remains the same!

We have officially changed the location of our Signature Event to the Dulles Expo Center.  We waited out the shutdown as long as we could in hopes that the National Air & Space Museum would open up, but had to finalize logistics by today. While it’s disappointing to lose the Air & Space Museum as the venue, we’re excited about the quality of competition that will no doubt be the highlight of our Signature Event!  

Here’s the new venue address:

Dulles Expo Center 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, CA 

We will be in the North Hall.  RobotEvents, our volunteer page, and social media will be updated today to reflect this change.

If you visit the event page, you’ll notice we updated the agenda slightly.  We pushed Friday times up a little so we will be ending a little earlier that night.  On Saturday, teams can not get into the building until 9 (previously 8 at the museum) so there are some changes to that day as well.  We’ve added the live stream information on the “Webcast” tab. Feel free to share that with those you know.  Teams must be checked in by noon on Friday.

As for other logistical information, there is no fee to park at the Expo Center so parking passes will no longer be needed.  If you remember from the previous update, you will be on your own for food.  There are many places, even within walking distance, of the Expo Center that will meet your needs.  If you have not uploaded consent forms, please do so as they are required to participate at the event.  The additional consent form sent previously is not required as it was specific to the museum.

We look forward to having you at the event next week!  If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Ryan Osweiler, Event Lead, at rosweiler@nvcc.edu

STEM Camps

STEM Camp 19 – Register Now!

>> Register at camp.novastem.us/enroll (goes live Tuesday Jan 17 at 10am)

Overview, Schedule, Camp Descriptions and FAQs

At NOVA SySTEMic, we have the most exciting and educational summer STEM camps in Northern Virginia! Led by STEM teachers and college students enrolled in STEM programs, our STEM Camp program introduces Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math to thousands of grade-school students. 

This summer we offer the following camps:

  • Coding Elementary School (rising 3rdto 5thgrade)
  • STEM ES (rising 4thto 5thgrade)
  • STEM MS (rising 6thto 8thgrade)
  • STEM HS (rising 9thto 12thgrade)
  • VEX IQ Robotics (rising 4thto 8thgrade)
  • VEX IQ Challenge: Ringmaster (rising 5thto 8thgrade)
  • VEX 1 Robotics (rising 6thto 10thgrade)
  • VEX 2 Robotics (rising 7thto 10thgrade)
  • Arduino (rising 7thto 10thgrade)
  • Rocketry (rising 7thto 12thgrade)
  • Cybersecurity 1 (rising 9thto 12thgrade)
  • Cybersecurity Basic & Advanced (rising 9thto 12thgrade)

>> Full summer camp descriptions are on our website STEM Camp Page <<

Camps are focused on hands-on, project-based learning that provides students with excellent opportunities to begin exploring STEM fields and to chart a course for future STEM education and workforce opportunities.

Highlights

  • One-week camps are only $315.
  • Camps are offered at many of our NOVA Campuses, at schools in Falls Church City, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William counties and Alexandria.
  • Camps run from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    • NEW: Childcare available 7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
  • $25 per week for either, $50 per week for both.
  • Discounts: Multi-Child ($50), Multi-Camp ($50), NOVA/Micron/Oath Employees ($25)

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are your camps located?

We offer camps in Prince William County, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington/Alexandria/Falls Church. 

What are your camp hours?

Camp hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

How do I sign up or review my registration?

On our camp website we have links to the registration site for new or returning users. Please visit http://www.nvcc.edu/systemic/camps.html

Who should I contact with questions?

Please contact a regional coordinatoror the main office systemic@nvcc.edu

Do you have a waitlist?

Yes. Please add your child to the waitlist on the registration website if you would like to enroll in a camp that is full. Some camps have long waitlists with 60+ students and others have 1 or 2. We do our best to find every student an opportunity. No deposit is required to join the waitlist.

Do you offer before and after care?

Yes, we do. We have before care starting at 7:45am for $25/week, and after care ending at 5:30pm for another $25/week. Students in before or after care should bring a book to read. When possible we will have a few self-directed activities available for students to use, but no instruction is provided.

Is STEM camps a suitable environment for kids with special needs?

Yes and No. We utilize certified teachers who have experience making accommodations for students; however, many of our summer camps are fast-paced, occur in a loud hands-on environment and require group work and high social interaction. You know your child best and some camps may work well and others may not. Please contact us at systemic@nvcc.eduto discuss.

When is the parent showcase?

Parent showcase takes place the last Friday of camp.  Our goal is to give time for the students to show their parents what they learned at camp. The students are needed for the rest of the day to break down and resort the equipment which takes time. Lunch will be provided for campers only.  An email will be sent out with more information regarding the time of the event depending on the camp.  After the presentation, parents may leave and return at 4:00pm for pick-up.

What if I need to change a camp registration, date or location?

Please contact your regional coordinatoror email systemic@nvcc.edu. We will do our best to get your student in a camp that meets your schedule.

What is your student-to-staff ratio?

Depending on the camp, typically we achieve a ratio of 1 teacher per 10 students. 

Can you make an age or experience exception?

We strongly discourage making exceptions. Students are grouped with peers in such a way to optimize their camp experience. Students without the necessary maturity or experience for a higher or more advanced camp tend to struggle to enjoy it.

Do you use Mac or Windows at STEM camp?

We use laptops with Windows operating system for most camps but some use iPads.

Are meals provided?

Students bring their own lunch and snacks every day. On the last day of camp we provide lunch.

How do you support students with food allergies/special dietary needs at camp?

During the registration process there is an option to designate a student as having allergies or special dietary needs and we will accordingly provide a special lunch on the last day of camp for that student.

How would my 6th grader work with a 12th grader? Would they be paired together?

We pair according to age group as much as possible.

Do you provide transportation to the camps?

No, unfortunately not. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to arrange for transportation to and from camp.

When are parents allowed to be in the classroom?

We understand parents may want to visit the classroom that their students will be at on the first day. While we encourage parents to drop-off and pick-up curbside, you are able to park and walk your child to class. Each camp will have a parent showcase on the last day where parents may visit the camp to see what students accomplished throughout the week. Please see the camp description to find specific showcase times. Parents are not permitted to be in the class during regular camp hours.

What is the policy on electronic devices?

Devices are approved by the instructor for emergency purposes or documentation use. Students may use their phones during lunch, planned breaks and before or after camps at their discretion. Students are responsible for their own devices.

What if my child has an appointment during camp?

Please contact the coordinator and/or the camp director. If you need assistance finding out who this is please contact systemic@nvcc.edu

Can my child miss the first day of camp?

We strongly discourage it, because that is when partners are formed and the fundamentals of camp are set. Ultimately we do allow students to miss a day if there is no alternative.

What is your cancellation policy?

Camp fees are refundable up until May 31 minus the $50 registration fee. Cancellations after May 31 may be granted a partial refund if their spot can be filled before camp starts. There are no refunds for cancellations within 7 days of the start of camp. We do our best to place students in a new camp in case of illness or other family emergency. 

Our registration system, Active, also offers optional cancellation insurance which can be purchased during check out. Cancellations for covered reasons will be honored through this cancellation insurance.

My child is not happy with his/her partner, can he/she change partners?

We encourage teams or groups to try and work it out with the instructor’s assistance. Part of the benefit of hands-on project based learning is developing collaboration and communication skills. Some students struggle in this area and it can be difficult, please contact your coordinator and/or camp director.

Can my child volunteer for camp as an instructor?  

Absolutely!  We are looking for volunteers that are 14 and older.  Please contact your regional coordinator for more information.  

What is the cost of your summer camp?

Most one week camps are $315 per week except for our two week VEX 2 camp that cost $450 for the whole camp. We also help a few other organizations run camps occasionally and those prices may vary.

What is your Tax ID #?

Our fiscal agent for camps is the Northern Virginia Community College. TAX ID # 54-1268263; mailing address associated is 3924 Pender Drive, Suite 170, Fairfax, VA 22030 

Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?

We strive to make our camps affordable and accessible to as many students as possible in NOVA’s service area. If you need assistance in getting your child enrolled in camp please contact us at systemic@nvcc.eduor the main office at: 703-530-3505.

Do you have any discounts/coupons?

We offer several discounts described below. To receive the automatic discounts, all registrations must be included in a single transaction.

  • Multi-Sibling, an automatic $50 discount is applied at check out.
  • Multi- Camp, an automatic $50 discount is applied at check out.
  • $25 Discount for employees of Micron/Oath/NOVA. Please contact systemic@nvcc.edu if you need assistance with these.

Signature Event

Night At The Museum Update

Jan 8, 2019

As many of you are aware the federal government is shutdown which means the National Air and Space Museum for the Signature Night at the Museum event is currently closed. We intend on hosting the competition at the museum should the government open in time, but just in case we have secured the Dulles EXPO Center as an alternate location.

The good news is that this event will go on as planned, and we are excited to see the level of competition you will bring.  The Dulles Expo Center is 3 miles south of the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum off of route 28.  The venue is close to the museum so you will not need to change hotel reservations.

Additionally, our California teams unfortunately had to withdraw due to a potential teacher strike. Their school division cancelled all January field trips. We will be filling these vacant spots shortly.

Hopefully the shutdown ends soon and we can have the event at the museum.  We will continue to update you as we get closer to the event.

Thank you for your patience and adaptability!

NOVA SySTEMic

Community STEM Teams

Registration Open for Community Robotics Teams!

Looking for a robotics team for your 4th-8th grade child and their school doesn’t have one? We’re establishing community-based VEX IQ teams for the 2018-2019 school year in Manassas, Alexandria, and Loudoun! These new teams will compete in the VEX IQ Challenge: Next Level.

Click here to register! Weekly meetings will be on Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 6-8:30pm (and about one Saturday per month). You can register for the location and day of the week that fits you best. For more information, contact NOVA SySTEMic Robotics Lead Ryan Osweiler at rosweiler@nvcc.edu

STEM Scholarship

VT-NETS Scholarship Deadline Extended!

Apply for a scholarship to Virginia Tech!

The VT-NETS Scholarship deadline has been extended until July 15, 2018.

The VT-NETS program starts when students enroll in Northern Virginia Community College’s (or Virginia Western Community College’s) engineering curriculum, where they will have access to up to a full scholarship (four semesters maximum) upon acceptance into the VT-NETS program.

Students will have access to faculty mentoring, gain support from a cohort of their peers, attend professional development and research seminars, and visit the Virginia Tech campus. Students will build bonds with Virginia Tech faculty and staff as they visit open houses, preview weekends, and attend events during their first two years while enrolled in community college.

Students will be aided in the transfer process and awarded a scholarship of up to $10,000/year (two years maximum) upon acceptance into the Virginia Tech College of Engineering.