Zebra Robotics offers robotics, coding, and technology classes in the evenings, on weekends, and at camp for students from Grades 1 to 12.
Zebra Robotics is expanding fast, with over 20 locations in Canada and the US. Learn block-based coding, web design, Unity game development, Python, Java, and more. Our robotics teams have competed in many regional and international competitions. Check us out and see why we are different.
Special needs:
Yes, mild support. A few of our campers have special needs.
Our experienced coaches developed all 50+ Zebra Robotics course curricula. Based on feedback from our locations, they are frequently upgraded. Our informal culture allows students to experiment with their ideas without fearing failure. Our goal is to encourage kids to have fun while learning.
Finally, many of our kids love to compete. We encourage them to participate in as many competitions as they can. Winning is not our goal; it happens naturally when students do their best.
Choose the right programs and sessions for your child; Zebra Robotics currently has 11 programs available; 2 TBD.
3D Design|Mechatronics|C++|Python|Scratch|Rasberry Pi|Robotics|Technology|LEGO|STEM
Registration Details
Our website has a wealth of information. Start by choosing your location and selecting Camp or Classes. From there, you can learn about the courses you are interested in and select the schedule you want to sign up for.
Click the Competitions menu or Blog under Why Zebra to learn more about our competitive teams. Our fees are transparent and are visible before you register. There are also no membership requirements or long-term commitments.
STEM is important, though Zebra understands that community is as well. The programs occur within an inclusive environment, allowing participants to engage and grow with like-minded peers. There is a sense of accomplishment granted most obviously by the competitions, at which Zebra excels, though the sense of belonging is a valuable aspect of the offering as well. Expertly run by skilled, engaging coaches, in settings that are well appointed.
What's unique about Zebra Robotics that made you want to register your child there?
Dax is very academic and loves to play with Lego. And Zebra was right near our house, so we decided to try it out.
I found with other camps, he wasn't coming home excited or fulfilled, but with the Zebra camp, he was so excited to go every day. So I attribute that probably to Satish and Sharmila, the co-founders and owners: they are so kind and they are building community all the time. So as Zebra grows, they're evolving and changing, and they really keep the kids engaged and give them a sense of purpose being there. So that's mainly why we continue to choose Zebra Robotics.
Was this your child's first experience with Zebra Robotics?
Our first year was 2015. And he just loved it. He loved everything about it. So then we registered him in the program again, and he's been there ever since.
What does your child like best or find most exciting about Zebra Robotics?
He loves and really thrives at the competitions. Zebra gives the kids a lot of responsibility and accountability for their own projects. They’re tasked to work as a team on projects. They're tasked to solve challenges where the coaches are there to lend support, but the kids really have to come up with hands-on solutions. And Dax loves that.
Like I said, he started with the robotics program, which was building Lego pieces with small motors. He then went into coding, and now he's with the Vex program, which is the larger robots. And he loves building them and he loves working in the team atmosphere.
The age group for the teams runs from Grade 9 and goes all the way to Grade 12. So he's also learning from the older kids, which I think gives him a lot of confidence and maturity. He loves going in and would go in every single day.
Was there any change or noticeable personal growth in your son after his time at Zebra Robotics?
It's confidence in himself and in his ability to speak to others. Zebra stresses not only building and coding but also getting the children to explain what they're doing to audiences. For instance, last weekend we had all the parents come in and each kid had to explain the different processes that they've been going through with the robot, with the tracking systems, and with the challenges they're experiencing. So the kids learn to really speak to audiences, and this happens at the competitions as well. He was at a competition in Waterloo and he had to speak to hundreds of parents and kids, and they all stood up, and it really gives them the confidence to speak about what they're learning.
It’s great to see that head up high. He walks in, shakes hands with the coaches, and there's a lot of one-on-one. It’s a great way to build their confidence, their professionalism, and their respect and teamwork together.
If you hadn't sent your son to Zebra Robotics, what's the most important feature of personal growth they would've missed out on?
If he hadn't gone to this camp well, he would’ve missed out on working with the co-founders and Satish and Charmila, who I have the most respect for. The way they treat the children with such compassion and care and understanding that as a parent, I trust in their abilities.
These are people at the highest standards of their careers and the highest standards of their teachings. I know Zebra is also partnered with U of T, and they have advisors on their board. So I think if Dax hadn't gone here, he would have lost the opportunity of not only finding and growing his own interest in robotics and coding, but he would have lost the opportunities that this will give him at different universities around the world, as well as the ability to give back to his own community.
How can a parent support their child to get the most out of Zebra Robotics?
I'm a parent who knows nothing about robotics or coding or math. I'm way more over at the other side of the arts. So this is all alien to me. I supported my son by getting him there on time when he was little. I also offer him emotional support at the competition, just telling him to do his best.
Your child will need mental preparation for the competitions. Whether they win, or lose, it doesn't matter, as long as they've tried and they've prepared. So I take responsibility for my son’s preparedness, getting him to the program, getting him to different competitions, and always supporting him and talking to him. He explains to me what he's doing, and I always make sure that I'm listening, even if I'm not understanding.
And Satish and Sharmila also give the kids verbiage to be able to speak in layman's terms for parents like myself who don't understand. I think that's really important.
What does your child say about Zebra Robotics, either to you or that you may have heard them say to friends or others?
Dax absolutely loves it. I know he loves the growth. When he started, his goal was to get to the Vex program with the big robots. So as a little 8 or 9-year-old, he was looking ahead. And he used to watch the university competitions. I think they were called BattleBots or something on TV.
So now that he's done the learning and he's learned the coding, he knows tons of different coding languages and he's constantly learning them. And now he's able to deal with and work on the big robots.
And he's now telling me when he needs to be there. He's also taken the initiative this year to start riding his bike to Zebra. And he'll tell you himself that he has grown in his own confidence.
He has really excelled even in his planning in high school, especially starting high school in a COVID year, which was a huge challenge. He's learned how to plan, how to keep a calendar of when things are due and be accountable for when deadlines are. So the teachings of the program carry into his school life, his personal life, and his home life. I think it's just been a really good blessing and beneficial to us in that way and to him.
And the coaches are not holding their hands. But they let the kids try. And they let the kids fail. And then they help the kids figure out different solutions. I can't say enough about the program.
Final thoughts?
I think if parents are on the fence, if you are thinking about putting your kids into a robotics coding program, I know Zebra Robotics has done wonders for not only expanding the knowledge for the STEM programs, but they've also supported girls in STEM. And this is coming from a boy's mom. I know they have programs that are exclusively for girls. They want to see girls grow within the sector as well, which is amazing.
They've done so well in their competitions. They attend world competitions, which means they're winning local competitions, like municipal competitions, provincial competitions, and national competitions to get to the worlds. So the heart and soul behind this is a husband and wife team that just loves to give back. They've just put so much hard work into this company. And I think that the way Zebra has expanded just speaks volumes for how good this company is and how good their camps are.
Anytime I have a question, I reach out, and I get an immediate response. And they make it really fun for the kids. The kids are learning, but they're learning and having fun at the same time. I just think Zebra is fantastic all the way around.
Zebra Robotics is an excellent place for children to pursue Robotics and STEM education.
With a great pedagogy, thoughtfully curated courses and exceptional coaches, it provides a very nurturing environment to the children. Also, the coaches are very approachable and they assess the performance of the kids and guide on what kind of courses would be best for them which is really helpful. It’s amazing how they were able to switch to online mode very swiftly and continued to keep the children engaged during the pandemic. Our children have been going to Zebra since past three years and it has been an enriching experience for them ...Show More
Peter Van, Parent
Robotics Stream
Our 12 year old son has attended Zebra for a few months now. (He is in the Robotics stream.) We are very impressed by the facility, curriculum, and instructors.
The space is bright, clean, and well-designed for group and individual activity.
The curriculum is very comprehensive and accessible on the portal. Our son is very engaged and eagerly awaits his completion of foundation-level courses, after which he is hoping to progress to the competition level. (We observed a very high level of enthusiasm and engagement in Zebra teams preparing for competition...So cool!!)
Zebra instructors are bright, skilled, patient, and demonstrate a love of learning and teaching. We were so impressed by their teaching style.
Highly recommend ...Show More
Nitin Gupta, Parent
Hands on learning
My daughter is a student at Zebra Robotics Mississauga. She has gained lots of hands on coding and robotics design experience in a short span of time thereby resulting in winning multiple competitions. Zebra's philosophy on developing their student's skills is the key factor in their students confidence building and achievements. Thank u team Zebra ...Show More
Aditya Shah, Camper
A Letter from a Student
Zebra Robotics has been a great learning environment. They have set opportunities for me that I can never have imagined. In a few years’ time, I have challenged myself to think critically and effectively at competitions like First Lego League (FLL) and Zone 1, while learning to respect my peers and my opponents.
When I started to attend Zebra Robotics in September of 2016, I went to the Robotics 400 classes, having no past training or use of the technology. I still remember my first class, one of the head coaches, Coach Satish. He understood that everyone in that class had little to no past experience with using Lego Robotics. The robot was explained carefully, starting with hardware, and moving onto the parts. Coach Satish simply and wonderfully explained the components and how effective they can be when combined with simple code. I was challenged to think outside of the box while knowing I would not be judged even if I failed, because of Zebra Robotics’ welcoming atmosphere. I was then chosen to move onto competing in one of the FLL teams.
My time at FLL was captivating. I was able to program, innovate and learn extraordinary things in 6 months with my team, the Wave Riders. I traveled to Seneca College, the University of Waterloo, and Rick Hanson Secondary School for my FLL competitions, I have also been to Montreal for Zone 1. We worked diligently and eliminated all conflicts with consensus. The process for FLL is the best part, making each day unique. We were able to make a strong bond with each other because of the process. Though the idea of our product becoming reality was terrifying, we used that for our inspiration. Competition days were hectic, but the rush of adrenaline is always exciting. Presentations on these days helped improve my concentration, performance, and confidence for the future. Overall, FLL engages everyone’s mind.
Zebra Robotics’ has many benefits for the students. Before I came to Zebra Robotics, I wouldn’t be able to express my thoughts clearly and I couldn’t adapt to certain situations. I learned to become flexible with my new, developed skills. Flexibility is important for competitions because they require you to complete a variety of tasks efficiently. This skill allowed me to adapt and problem solve. Robotics helps students realize their passions and what they are able to do. Kids who learn robotics early on will be more likely to understand their future pathways. I have also learned to be a team player and a leader as I learned to communicate clearly. Furthermore, robotics has thought me to respect my peers. I was able to learn the essential skills needed for future work at Zebra Robotics and I learned how to use them for competitions and problem-solving ...Show More
Anika Kottaram, Camper
App development with Zebra Robotics
My name is Anika Kottaram daughter of sudha hariharan. I’m going to the eighth grade in greenwood high international school. I’ve been doing the app development course and have learnt quite a bit within the span of 10 days. I’ve learnt how to develop apps that I use day to day with ease such as an app for doodling or calculating my age. Coach Vasantha always kept me on my toes giving me challenges to complete by myself at home. Zebra has helped me to pass my time during this lockdown by helping me learn new things and would love to continue with this for some more time ...Show More
Armina Aryaie, Camper
Armina on Zebra Robotics
Zebra Robotics is such an amazing learning environment. I think I've been going there for about 6 years now, and I can confidently say that I don't regret it! Everyone is super encouraging and kind-hearted, to the point that it's almost contagious. Not to mention how diligent and informative everyone here is. It's honestly become my home away from home and I would 100% recommend joining ...Show More
Technology is everywhere. It has changed the way we create, communicate, and consume information. Technology is improving our quality of life by producing high-quality products and delivering them to an astonishing number of consumers. Artificially Intelligent automation is going to power the next decade.
We founded Zebra Robotics ten years ago to give our students the knowledge and experience to take advantage of technology's opportunities. Our approach to robotics and coding, which develops hands-on building and computer-based programming skills, has resulted in phenomenal success. Our students have represented Canada in the World Robot Olympiad in India, Thailand, Germany, Panama and Turkey.
Our students have not only excelled at regional, national, and international events but have also secured admissions to top university programs, including the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and the University of Waterloo. Their success stories are a testament to the effectiveness of our programs.
Our programs, designed for Grades 1 to 12 students, are not just about learning robotics and coding. They're about preparing for the future, unlocking potential, and fostering creativity. We're committed to expanding our course offerings to ensure our students are well-prepared for the future. Join us on this exciting journey and discover the difference Zebra Robotics can make in your child's life.
Staff and Counsellors
Our staff and counsellors come from a variety of backgrounds. Most lead coaches have engineering discipline backgrounds with specializations in Electronics and Communications, Computer Science, mechatronics, aerospace or mechanical engineering.
The robots have been run, and the points have been totaled. It’s official: four Zebra Robotics teams are going to Turkey for the International World Robot Olympiad (WRO) in November! These teams have been working hard since regionals to make their dreams a reality. This work has paid off, as ALL FOUR TEAMS got first place in their respective categories!
Team Agribots came first in the Elementary Future Innovators category! They redesigned their robot after the regionals to a more sleek-looking, polished design.
The Woodchucks came first in the Junior Future Innovators category! They spent a ton of time at Zebra knuckling down on their design, ensuring it would run well on the day of the competition.
Team -0.618 came first in the Senior Robomission category! This team set its sights high early in the season and has been studiously perfecting a robot based on advanced math and with an innovative, efficient design.
The Miracle Monkeys came first in the Junior Robomission category! No strangers to competition, they knew that if they put in the work, they would come out on top. And they did!
We are proud of all our teams, as they all took what they had learned over the years and skillfully applied their knowledge to design the best robots possible. We know they will represent Canada well on the world stage.
But the fun isn’t over yet! We have four more teams who may make it to international competition. We will know on Friday if two of our high-scoring teams will be able to compete in either Puerto Rico or Italy at WRO Open Invitationals. Zebra is also fielding teams in two additional categories whose regionals are in September: Future Engineers and Robosports. Stay tuned to our socials to see we are sending more teams to international competition!
Many of the high school students have been participating in Robotics and Coding competitions over the last several years while at Zebra Robotics. With Covid, and lockdown in Mississauga, Canada location, they decided to team up for something different.
Group of six high school students, Nikhil, Daxsin, Adam, Vishal,Armina, and Josh came together and organized a Coding hackathon during the week of Hour-of-code. As the participant’s age group varied from Grade 2 to 12, they had to come up with several categories, that challenged participants appropriately, while givng them flexibility to choose challenges higher than their grade level, if they choose to.
Zebra Hackathon 2020 – Organizing committee
They worked over a three week period deciding on how the event will be conducted remotely, while the Zebra marketing and operations team, assisted them in getting the word out, and facilitating signups.
By the week of Zebra Hackathon 2020, they had received over 100 signps, from Canada, US , India and Srilanka. (they didn’t know how the word got out beyond Zebra locations in US and Canada, but hey, more the merrier was the attitude!).
The event lasted for about 3 hours, with results published within that time frame and winners, Zebra Bronze, Silver, Gold Stripe winners.
Overall the experience was very valuable, and participants had fun meeting like minded people across the countries during a tough lockdown we all were experiencing. After toiling for weeks preparing for the event and running it successfully, we asked the organizing team if they want to do it again, there answer was ” can we do this multiple times a year?”
My parents found out about Zebra Robotics around 5 years ago and enrolled me into robotics. During the time I was in Robotics I was completely attracted to programming; flash forward a few years and I joined as a student in Java. Initially I struggled with programming but as it was a grade 11 course I had, I had to push myself to learn and somewhere along the line I started to enjoy programming. From there onwards I programmed at every opportunity I got. Eventually my passion for programming took me to pursue computer science and as such I’m a second year Computer Science student.
Rajath far right has been a student of robotics and coding. He started volunteering and eventually teaching at Zebra Robotics.
Tell us a bit about yourself, your hobby and what you’d like to do when you are not working on your school or university work.
University and working a job at Zebra takes up most of my time, that being said in the little free time I have I mostly just watch shows. Additionally, I make sure to exercise on my free time, as to counteract sitting down and working for a few hours.
How long were you a student at Zebra Robotics? What did you like most at Zebra during that time?
I was a student for around 3 years, in between which I started working a part-time job at Zebra. I have been a Robotics and Coding instructor at Zebra for a little more than 3 years. While I was a student, I spent my first year in robotics and my next 2 in competition with a bit of coding mixed in.
If you were to suggest few things to aspiring Computer Science university students, what would you say?
Programming as a whole is quite difficult at first because it’s like learning a whole new language. With perseverance, practice, and sincerity anyone can become a programmer. Once you get over the first hump in programming, there will be many more but every single challenge you accomplish helps fortify your skills. For university preparation, learn what languages are essential at the time (java, python, etc..) and that should give you a good head start for first year university.
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