Who can join?
Competition teams serve Hudsonville Public Schools students in grades 5–12. Classes and training may have different eligibility requirements; ask about the right entry point for your student.
Start Here
Understanding Hudsonville Robotics
Explore the five questions families ask most. Open any section below, or follow the journey from beginning to end.
For Families
Could robotics fit your student?
Curiosity is a good starting point. Introductory classes let students try building and programming before considering a competition team.
What is the commitment?
The program guide describes one practice evening per week for elementary teams and two for middle and high school teams, plus competitions. Confirm this season’s schedule before committing.
What should we budget?
Ask about the current season fee, what it covers, travel costs, financial assistance, and the family volunteer commitment. Current fees and registration dates: to be confirmed.
Program Walkthrough
One page. Five useful answers.
Learn about the program, find the right age group, and explore the path to joining a team.
Step 1 of 5
How It Works
A new game. A new robot. A season of improvement.
VEX Robotics gives students a fresh engineering challenge every year. Teams design, build, program, test, compete, and improve their robot throughout the season.
Learn the Game
Students study the rules, scoring options, field layout, and match format for the new yearly challenge.
Develop a Strategy
Teams decide how they want to score, what the robot needs to do, and which goals matter most.
Design and Build
Students prototype mechanisms, build the robot, write code, and prepare for driving and autonomous routines.
Compete
Teams participate in league play and Saturday competitions against teams from other schools.
Improve
Students make iterative improvements based on testing, match results, driver feedback, and new ideas.
Grow
The process builds problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, confidence, and resilience.
Adults guide. Students solve.
Adults support students by asking questions, teaching safe practices, and helping them think through problems. The design, strategy, building, programming, and problem-solving belong to the students.
Age Groups
Room to grow from foundations into leadership.
Hudsonville Robotics provides age-appropriate entry points while giving students room to grow into advanced design, programming, strategy, and leadership.
Grades 5–6
VEX IQ
Students learn foundational robot design, programming, driving, teamwork, and competition skills.
Grades 7–8
VEX V5RC Middle School
Students build larger robots while learning mechanisms, sensors, programming, strategy, and team roles.
Grades 9–12
VEX V5RC High School
Students take greater ownership of design, programming, documentation, project management, strategy, and leadership.
Getting Started
There is a path into robotics for new students.
Students can try robotics, build fundamentals, and then move toward a competitive team when they are ready for the commitment and expectations of a season.
Intro to Robotics
A short opportunity for students who want to try robotics before committing to a full season.
Fundamentals / Training
Students build skills in chassis design, lifts, intakes, sensors, programming, driving, and teamwork.
Join a Team
Students ready for a full season may join a competitive team based on age group, available space, readiness, and program needs.
Competitive robotics requires commitment.
Like a sport, robotics depends on attendance, teamwork, practice, and steady improvement. Students do not need to know everything at the beginning, but they do need to participate and learn through trial and error.
- Students work as part of a team.
- Attendance and communication matter.
- Students are expected to contribute to the robot and the team.
- Parents can encourage patience, commitment, and resilience.
Season Overview
Robotics has a rhythm.
Teams learn the game, build a robot, compete, and continue improving as they learn from practice, match results, and other teams.
Middle School & High School
VEX V5RC Season
August
Game review, strategy, early design, prototyping, and building.
September
Building, programming, testing, driver practice, and major improvements.
October–December
League play and Saturday competitions.
January–February
Extended season for teams that qualify for state-level events.
Elementary
VEX IQ Season
Mid-October
Team formation, game introduction, and early robot building.
November–December
Building, programming, driving practice, and early scrimmage work.
Holiday Break
Program pause.
January–February
League play and Saturday competitions.
The first robot is not the final robot.
Teams continually test changes and refine their robot, programming, driving, and strategy.
Student Growth
Robotics develops more than technical ability.
Students join because they are interested in robots. They stay because they discover what they are capable of.
Team Collaboration
Students listen, share ideas, and solve problems together.
Design Practices
Students prototype, test, document, revise, and improve.
Project Management
Students experience deadlines, priorities, tradeoffs, and preparation.
Competition Experience
Students practice sportsmanship while learning with teams from other schools.
Adult Collaboration
Students learn to ask good questions and communicate with coaches and mentors.
Confidence and Leadership
Students find meaningful roles and grow into leaders over time.
Every student can contribute in a different way.
Students become builders, programmers, drivers, strategists, organizers, researchers, documenters, and leaders. Each student can find a place to contribute and grow.
Ready to Learn More?
Help your student find their place in robotics.
Students do not need to begin as experts. They need curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to learn with a team.