Empowering Young Minds Through Free, Accessible Robotics-Inspired STEM Education

What Is the RISE Program?

The Robotics-Inspired STEM Education (RISE) program by Placer Robotics is a free, hand-on STEM and robotics workshop tailored for underrepresented and low-income youth in grades 4–6. This initiative aims to eliminate financial barriers to participation, fostering accessibility to high-quality STEM education for students who lack exposure to such opportunities due to socioeconomic constraints.

The RISE program engages students in engineering and robotics through the globally renowned VEX robotics framework. Participants will gain practical skills in building, coding, and teamwork while developing life skills like problem-solving, perseverance, and critical thinking.  

This initiative builds on the success of Placer Robotics’ Girl Powered program, which has introduced over 120 girls to STEM since 2022.  The RISE program is made possible by generous grants from the Teichert Foundation and the United Auburn Indian Community.

RISE Program Objectives

Inspire Creativity and Curiosity in STEM: Engage underrepresented and low-income youth with exciting, hands-on robotics activities that spark a passion for STEM.

Promote Accessible Learning Opportunities: Provide FREE workshops that eliminate financial barriers, ensuring all students have access to high-quality STEM education.

Make STEM Fun and Interactive: Deliver an engaging introduction to engineering and robotics through playful competition and innovative project-based learning.

Build Confidence and Foundational Skills: Equip students with essential STEM knowledge and practical skills, empowering them to thrive in advanced STEM programs and beyond.

Develop Lifelong Skills: Encourage perseverance, critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration, helping students succeed in STEM and other areas of life.

Expand STEM Awareness in the Community: Highlight the potential of robotics and STEM activities through outreach efforts, creating a ripple effect of interest and involvement in underrepresented communities.

  • How It Works

    The RISE program is structured as a Robot Olympics workshop. Students can be builders, coders, and creative thinkers — all while having fun exploring STEM ideas and concepts with VEX IQ robotics.

    Participants will work together to solve various challenges as part of their Robot Olympics, to ignite their love of learning through game-based engineering and coding challenges that blend creativity and imagination with STEM learning. They will learn lifelong skills in teamwork, leadership, and communication, as they go for the gold in sports like robot soccer!

  • Next Steps

    RISE’s Robot Olympics workshop can be delivered in two ways (we’ll work with you to determine the best format to meet the needs of your site/students):

    1. Individual students in grades 4–6 can participate in a FREE weekend RISE workshop at Placer Robotics Center in downtown Roseville.

    2. Placer Robotics will partner with you to host a FREE after-school RISE workshop at your site (requires 10 or more participants from grades 4–6).

    To get started, complete the RISE interest form below! Questions? Please contact us at rise@placerrobotics.org.