Hosting a Workshop
Girl Powered workshops are welcoming, hands-on STEM experiences where students explore robotics, drones, leadership, and what it means to see themselves in STEM. This guide walks you through the key steps to plan, promote, and run a workshop in your community.
A workshop can include a guest speaker or panel, hands-on activities, team-building exercises, leadership discussions, and time for reflection. You do not need to be a roboticist or STEM professional to host one—these resources are designed to help you lead with confidence.
Each section below will help you move through the steps to plan and run a Girl Powered workshop with confidence.
1. Identify Your VEX Materials
Before a Girl Powered activity, start by reviewing what materials you have available, like:
- Which VEX Robotics kits you have access to
- How many VEX Robotics kits you have access to
Most Girl Powered Workshops require VEX hardware. If you do not have any available, you can use a VEXcode VR coding activity instead.
2. Choose Your Audience and Workshop Length
Decide who your Girl Powered workshop is for and how long it will be. Girl Powered activities are available across the VEX Continuum, from Pre-K through college, so choose an age range and workshop length that match your goals. A Girl Powered workshop can be a short 1–2 hour session, a half-day event, or a full-day experience.
3. Select Activities That Fit Your Resources
Choose Girl Powered activities that match your available VEX hardware, student age range, workshop length, and facilitator experience. You can use one activity for a focused workshop or combine multiple activities to create a longer experience.
Each Activity includes the following materials to help you plan and run your workshop.
- Instructor Notes: This is an adult-facing facilitation guide that helps you prepare materials, lead the activity, adjust timing, and wrap up with a reflection and certificate.
- Student Handout: This resource explains the activity in student-friendly language. Helpful hints are provided so all students can be successful.
4. Choose a Date, Time, and Location
Choose a location that gives students enough room to work in groups, move through activities, and interact with facilitators or mentors. Confirm the date, start time, end time, and expected number of participants before you begin promoting your Girl Powered workshop.
5. Build Your Workshop Schedule
Create a simple agenda that gives students time to get started, explore the activities, work with others, and reflect on what they learned. A Girl Powered workshop may include hands-on VEX Robotics or drone activities, a guest speaker or panel, team-building exercises, or reflection time.
Use this Workshop Agenda template to help create your agenda > Google Doc / .docx / .pdf
6. Invite Speakers, Mentors, and Volunteers
A Girl Powered workshop can be strengthened by guest speakers, mentors, or volunteers who help students see different pathways into STEM. Speakers are optional, but they can create meaningful connections to real-world STEM experiences. Make sure each guest understands their role, the workshop schedule, and how they can help create a welcoming experience for students.
7. Prepare Materials and Technology
Review each of your chosen Girl Powered activities and prepare the required VEX hardware, printed materials, and student-facing resources. If students are completing a VEXcode VR coding activity, confirm that participants will have compatible devices and internet access.
The Instructor Notes provide details on preparing materials for each Girl Powered activity.
1. Create Your Flyer or Other Promotional Materials
Download the Girl Powered assets below to design flyers, social posts, or other promotional materials for your Girl Powered workshop.
- Girl Powered Workshop Flyer Template > Google Slide / .pptx / pdf
- Girl Powered Style Guide > ( pdf )
- Girl Powered Logos and Assets > ( zip )
Use the Girl Powered Style Guide when creating promotional materials with Girl Powered logos or artwork. For branding questions or permission requests, contact [email protected]. For marketing questions, contact [email protected].
2. Share Your Workshop
Promote your Girl Powered workshop through school newsletters, team communications, community calendars, social media, and partner organizations. In addition, you can create a listing on VEX Robotics Events to allow community members to find and register for your Girl Powered workshop.
On the day of your Girl Powered workshop, focus on creating a welcoming, organized experience for students and families. Before participants arrive, review the Instructor Notes for each Girl Powered activity so you know how to prepare materials, facilitate the experience, and wrap up the workshop.
1. Welcome Students and Families
Set up a check-in area where students and families can confirm registration, ask questions, and settle in. Use a sign-in sheet to track attendance and stay organized for sign-out at the end of the Girl Powered workshop.
Sign-in Sheet Template > Google Doc / .docx / .pdf
2. Review Registration Details and Collect Any Additional Forms
VEX Robotics Events registration can provide key participant information, including emergency contact details. Before the workshop begins, review the registration information so your team knows where to access it if needed.
You may also want to collect additional information, such as notes about medical needs or allergies, photo and media releases, or anything else required by your organization. Keep all completed forms and emergency contact information organized and accessible to the appropriate adults during the workshop. A template form is available below.
Girl Powered Workshop Photo Release and Participant Information Form Template >
Google Doc / .docx / .pdf
3. Guide Students Through the Workshop
Use the Girl Powered workshop agenda created during planning to implement your event. The agenda includes timing to help keep the workshop running smoothly.
Refer to the Instructor Notes to explain each activity's goal, organize students, and support them throughout, from preparation to wrap-up, reflection, and certificates.
4. Celebrate Success!
At the end of each Girl Powered workshop, hand out certificates to recognize student participation. Certificates give students a tangible reminder of what they accomplished and help celebrate what might be their first steps in STEM.
You will find certificate templates here.
