Equipment Guide
Your kid builds a robot in a week — here's what to pack and what demo day actually looks like.
ℹ️ Most camps run ages 7–14 and provide the robot kit itself; what you buy is safety gear, a notebook, batteries, and sometimes a laptop — check the camp's supply email before spending anything.
Must-have estimate
$74 – $168
5 must-have items · 11 total
Required in most build spaces the moment tools or springs come out. Get youth-sized ANSI Z87.1-rated glasses — adult frames slide down small faces and kids stop wearing them.
Buy a two-pack. One pair will live permanently at the bottom of a backpack by Wednesday.
Nearly every camp bans sandals and Crocs in the build room because dropped motors, batteries, and metal beams are a real thing. Any sturdy sneaker works — no special footwear needed.
A bound graph-paper or dot-grid notebook where kids sketch designs, log code changes, and record what broke. Judges at competition events literally read these, so bound (not spiral) with numbered pages is the standard.
Have your kid date every entry. Judges love seeing 'we tried this Tuesday, it failed, here's Wednesday's fix.'
Plain T-shirt and shorts or pants with no long dangling drawstrings, loose sleeves, or jewelry that can catch in gears. Many camps hand out a team shirt on day one — don't buy branded gear ahead of time.
Long hair gets tied back before anything spins — toss a couple of hair ties in the bag.
Older LEGO EV3 and many sensor add-ons burn through AAs at an alarming rate, and camps rarely supply enough. A charger plus two sets of eight lets one set charge while the other runs.
Ask which kit the camp uses first — VEX IQ and LEGO SPIKE use built-in rechargeable packs and need zero AAs.
Some camps provide machines; others are bring-your-own for programming. LEGO SPIKE, VEXcode, and Scratch-style editors all run fine on a modest Chromebook — you do not need a gaming laptop.
Confirm the camp's requirement before buying. If it's BYOD, ask whether they need Bluetooth or a USB-A port for tethering to the robot brain.
Metal-based kits like VEX use a lot of 5/64 hex screws, and the wrench in the kit is slow and blister-inducing. A small ratcheting screwdriver with hex bits speeds up rebuilds enormously.
Write your kid's name on every handle in paint pen — loose tools migrate between teams within hours.
A tackle-box style case with adjustable compartments for axles, pins, gears, and screws. The single biggest time sink at camp is hunting for one specific 3-unit pin in a bin of 400 pieces.
Useful for moving code and presentation slides between camp computers and home. Check which connector the robot brain uses — many use USB-A to micro-USB, and camps rarely have spares.
Only worth it if your kid clearly caught the bug and wants to keep building after camp. Match the platform the camp used — LEGO SPIKE Essential, VEX IQ starter, or an Arduino/micro:bit beginner kit — so the skills carry over.
Wait until camp ends. Half the kids fall in love with coding and half with building, and that changes which kit is right.
Masking or label tape plus a fine-tip permanent marker for naming batteries, controllers, tools, and the robot itself. Identical kits at four tables means constant mix-ups.
For the parents in the bleachers — because you're in that gym every weekend too.
A lightweight, portable chair with a carry bag. You will spend hours on sidelines — your back will thank you.
Est. $25 – $80
Keeps coffee hot through a two-hour game in the cold. Keep drinks cold all day in summer. A non-negotiable for any sideline parent.
Est. $20 – $45
Fits snacks, drinks, and ice packs for the whole team. Collapsible cooler bags are easy to carry and store flat in the car.
Est. $20 – $55
For those early morning or late fall games when it drops 20 degrees by kick-off. Compact, warm, and doubles as a picnic blanket.
Est. $18 – $45
A solid dad hat or wide-brim sun hat for long days in the sun. Look for UPF 50+ if you're at weekend tournaments.
Est. $15 – $40
Fast-drying and compact. Great for wiping down wet gear, drying off kids after a rainy game, or cleaning up spills at the snack table.
Est. $10 – $25
Single-serve packets you can toss in a water bottle. Better than hauling cases of sports drinks — and easier on the sugar.
Est. $15 – $30
Band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and an instant cold pack. Small enough to toss in your bag, essential when someone rolls an ankle in the last five minutes.
Est. $12 – $30
Bleachers, dugout benches, folding chairs — they are all hard after an hour. A folding, water-resistant seat cushion with back support makes a full tournament day survivable.
Est. $15 – $35
All-day tournaments mean hours of photos, group texts, and livestreaming to grandparents — with no outlet nearby to charge in between games. A power bank keeps you covered.
Est. $18 – $40
Catch up on a podcast, take a call, or just tune into the game — wireless earbuds keep your hands free while everyone else fumbles with a cord.
Est. $30 – $250
Heavy-duty collapsible wagon with wide wheels for hauling chairs, coolers, and gear bags across thick grass or mud at complex venues.
Est. $80 – $150
Enclosed pop-up tent to stay dry and warm during freezing rain, wind, or extreme cold at early morning or late fall games.
Est. $70 – $180
USB-powered padded seat with back support that hooks onto metal bleachers or lawn chairs to keep parents warm during long tournament days.
Est. $45 – $90
Rechargeable cooling fan with water mist attachment to protect young athletes and parents from overheating during summer tournaments.
Est. $20 – $40
Machine-washable, towel-style seat protector designed to prevent sweat, mud, and turf pellets from ruining car upholstery after games.
Est. $25 – $45
Divided snack organizer ideal for parents assigned to team snack duty or packing fuel for multi-game tournament weekends.
Est. $15 – $30
Compact muscle massager for warming up tight hamstrings and easing post-game quad soreness between tournament bracket rounds.
Est. $35 – $80
Fast-charging battery pack to keep phones, video cameras, scoring apps (like GameChanger), and heating cushions powered all day.
Est. $25 – $60
Loud gyms, packed rinks, echoey arenas — a good pair of over-ear headphones lets you dial down the noise between plays without missing your kid's turn.
Est. $40 – $200
Total Estimated Cost
$74 – $168
Based on must-have items at typical retail prices. Costs vary by brand, retailer, and whether the league supplies certain gear.
Sports, arts, camps, and clubs — plain-English guides and gear lists for whatever your kid's into. Free, no account required.
