Wiz Kidz Challenge Club

The Complete Parent FAQ

Program Essentials & Outcomes

1. What exactly is the Wiz Kidz Challenge Club?

It’s our premier competitive robotics program for kids aged 9–14. Students build a strong foundation in coding, robotics, AI, and teamwork to create innovative solutions for real-world problems—just like real-world entrepreneurs.

2. What is the target age group?

The Challenge program is designed for students in grades 4–8 (approximately ages 9 to 14).

3. Will mentors teach the coding required for robot design?

Yes. Our mentors provide high-level tips and strategic "tricks" for coding and design. However, in alignment with the ethos of FIRST® and Wiz Kidz, mentors do not write the code for the team; we empower the students to be the creators.

4. Does every student get to work on the robot?

Everyone is encouraged to contribute to robot design, coding, the innovation project, and "Core Values" exercises. As the season progresses, students naturally gravitate toward roles that align with their specific skills and interests.

5. How do we see our team's progress?

Wiz Kidz has developed a proprietary team progress tracking. Parents and students get access to weekly scores and milestone updates, allowing you to see their growth and technical improvements in real-time.

The Robot Game & Competition

6. What is the maximum score a team can get in the Robot Game?

The maximum score typically varies between 500 and 700 points depending on the season's theme. While the game is designed to be nearly impossible to "max out" within the 2:30-minute limit, many experienced teams have achieved it in recent years.

7. How much help do mentors provide with scoring?

Wiz Kidz mentors provide the best possible guidance in robot design and strategy, but we emphasize that the students earn points on their own merit. We focus on the journey of problem-solving rather than just the final score

Team Dynamics & Mentorship

8. How are teams formed?

Mentors prioritize evaluating each child’s skills and interests to ensure a balanced skillset on every team. While we make an effort to accommodate pairing requests, the team balance comes first.

9. How many kids are on a team?

Wiz Kidz teams are designed to be an optimal size of 6 to 8 students.

10. Will you coach multiple teams at the same time?

Yes! We ideally coach 3–4 teams side-by-side. This allows teams to learn from and challenge each other, and gives mentors a better opportunity to guide "gracious professionalism".

Schedule & Team Logistics

11. What is the weekly time commitment?

Qualifying teams typically spend 4–5 hours per week on their project.

• In-person: Weekly 2-hour guided sessions (3 weeks per month).

• Off-class: 2-3 hours per week for team-led meetups or individual home activities to keep the momentum going.

12. Season reveal is in August—what happens in July?

• Rookie teams: Build base robots and learn the challenge rules.

• Advanced teams: Enhance their base robot designs using learnings from the previous year.

13. How do we schedule off-class team meetups?

Parents are encouraged to leverage free community spaces like local library study rooms or community clubhouses.

14. Why can't we meet at a team member's house?

You certainly can! As long as the host family has "the patience of a Buddha," hosting a meetup at home is a great way for the team to bond and work in a comfortable environment.

15. Why don't we have unlimited access to the Wiz Kidz venue? It’ll help the team practice more.

To keep membership fees affordable, we rent large community spaces on an hourly basis. Offering unlimited access would significantly increase the cost for all families.

Enrollment, Fees & Commitment

16. What is the cost of the program?

• Registration Fee: $279 (one-time, non-refundable).

• Membership Fee: $199 per month, paid in two seasonal installments ($597 in July and $597 in October).

17. What if my child wants to drop out mid-season?

Because this is a team-based competition, a full-season commitment is required to protect the team's ability to compete. Consequently, all payments are final and we cannot provide refunds or waive future installments.

18. Do we need to buy our own robot kits?

No. Wiz Kidz provides all necessary high-end equipment (like LEGO® Spike Prime sets) for the competition. These kits cost upwards of $800 each; we provide them as part of your membership to keep your entry costs lower.

19. Do you offer a sibling discount?

Yes, we offer our standard 10% sibling discount on subsequent spots.

20. Can my child be in another Wiz Kidz program simultaneously?

We strongly recommend focusing on one program at a time, as Competitive Club activities are very time-consuming. Students can return to other programs after the competition season ends.

21. Who keeps the trophies?

Wiz Kidz provides certificates to all members. If the team wins a trophy, the members usually "roll" it (rotate who keeps it) throughout the year. Trophies are returned to Wiz Kidz in June when the new season begins.

22. Are parents expected to volunteer?

The primary role for parents is clearing their child’s schedule and organizing off-class team meetups. If you're keen to do more, you can help organize outreach, fundraising, or field trips.

Ready to see your child lead the way? 🚀

Visit wizkidz.ai/clubs to secure your spot for the upcoming season!