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Competitions and Events

Our YCA curriculum expands to competitions and showcases as a fun and exciting way for students to learn and grow their STEM skills. These events inspire creativity, encourage teamwork, and help students build lasting friendships. Collaborating as a team to participate in local, regional, or even global events provides an exciting learning experience that not only ignites students’ interest but also creates lasting memories and friendships. In competitions like VEX Robotics or FIRST LEGO LEAGUE (FLL), students have the opportunity to enhance their collaboration skills and develop essential teamwork abilities.

Our competition-focused programs allow young engineers to engage multiple senses during each session, significantly improving their ability to fully understand and retain what they have learned. You may learn some more about our competition weekend program here.

VEX Competition

The VEX robotics competition is a global robotics program that challenges students to design, build, and program robots to compete in exciting, hands-on engineering challenges. Through teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity, participants develop critical STEM skills while engaging in real-world applications of science and technology.

YCA introduces young engineers (ages 8 to 18) to the fundamentals of robotics, programming, and engineering design. As they build and refine their robots for competition, students enhance their technical abilities while fostering
teamwork, resilience, and a passion for innovation.

2024-2025 VEX Season
In the Vex competitions, students embark on an exciting journey as they tackle challenges with Vex Go, Vex IQ Rapid Relay, and VEX V5 High Stakes.

Our YCA teams joined this year’s VEX Asia Open Signature Event in Wuxi, China, running from December 29, 2024, to January 1, 2025. This prestigious competition attracted nearly 1,000 teams from around the globe, providing a platform for students to showcase their robotics skills and innovations.

The VEX-IQ Rapid-Relay challenge, targeted at elementary and middle school students, was a thrilling test of robotics creativity. Teams were challenged to excel in ball-passing efficiency, switch-clearing mechanisms, and strategic time management. Success required robots to handle multiple tasks seamlessly while adhering to competition constraints, pushing participants to think critically and innovate under pressure.

YCA Team Award:
The VEX-IQ Rapid-Relay challenge, targeted at elementary and middle school students, was a thrilling test of robotics creativity. Teams were challenged to excel in ball-passing efficiency, switch-clearing mechanisms, and strategic time management. Success required robots to handle multiple tasks seamlessly while adhering to competition constraints, pushing participants to think critically and innovate under pressure.

Middle School Team won the Inspire Award!
Winning the Inspire Award is a testament to our team’s well-rounded approach to robotics, making it one of the most meaningful recognitions. This award not only highlights technical expertise but also celebrates their ability to positively impact others and promote STEM values.

Warm congratulations to all our VEX IQ students for their tireless weekend practice and remarkable teamwork during the challenging Asia Open competition!

FIRST LEGO LEAGUE (FLL) Competition

FIRST LEGO LEAGUE (FLL) is an international program that engages students in playful and meaningful learning while helping them discover the fun in science and technology. The FLL competition inspires teams to research, build and experiment, and by doing so, they live the entire process of creating ideas, solving problems and overcoming obstacles, while gaining confidence in their abilities to positively use technology.

YCA introduces 7 to 16 Y.O young coders and engineers to the basics of STEM and how to apply their skills in an exciting competition while building the habits of learning, confidence, and teamwork skills along the way

2024-2025 FLL Season: Submerged
In the 2024-2025 ocean-inspired robotics season, the ocean is more than what you can see on the horizon. Beneath the surface lies our planet’s most complex ecosystems, full of life and potential for exploration and learning

Throughout this competition-focused module, Young Coders explore beneath the surface and uncover innovative ways to protect the oceans. They learn about sonars and other marine technologies that allow us to gain more immersive knowledge of the ocean’s greatest wonders, to explore the unknown, and apply those learnings to improve life on land and below water.

November 2024 FLL Beijing Station

On November 23rd, the FLL Beijing Station competition brought together over 200 students in the Explore category, including our very own teams! A highlight of the event was a heartfelt speech by Camilla Bottke, Global Head of Competitions at LEGO® Education, who inspired and encouraged all the children to keep learning and innovating.

The journey to this competition was an exciting and enriching experience for our YCA students. Through after-school activities at International-School-of-Beijing (ISB), French-International-School (LFIP), and German-Embassy-School (DSP), as well as intensive weekend acceleration classes, our students built a strong foundation in robotics. Using LEGO Spike and Robot Inventor kits, they mastered motorizing their projects, integrating sensors, and programming interactive features to bring their creations to life.

With the ocean as this year’s theme, our teams dove into learning about ocean layers, submarines, and marine ecosystems. Over many weekends, they worked hard to build LEGO models, code their designs, and prepare colorful team posters to showcase their ideas.
YCA Team Award:

Atlantic LEGO Pro Team & Young Engineers Team – Best Performance Award
Super LEGO Stars Team – Scientific Exploration Star Award
Young Ocean Explorers Team – Core Values Award
Save the Ocean Team & Ocean Builders Team – Third Place Award
Little Ocean Rescuers Team – Second Place Award

April North China First Lego League

We’re proud to share exciting news from the Beijing Station FIRST LEGO League Regional. Competition — where our brilliant students competed among 104 teams and brought home four major awards in one unforgettable day! This incredible result reflects their creativity, teamwork, and dedication — and we couldn’t bemore proud of what they’ve accomplished.

All four teams tackled this year’s “Submerged” theme with skill and imagination designing and programming robots to complete ocean-focused missions. Their success shows what
happens when curiosity meets collaboration.

Onward to the Next Round!

Thanks to their great performance, our teams have qualified for the North China Championship this July  where they’ll face the best from across the region. Even more exciting: they’ll also represent us at the International Competition in Macao this August! We’ll be cheering them on as they bring their innovation and energy to the global stage.

Join the Journey – Empower Your Young Coder

This victory reflects what Young Coders Academy stands for: nurturing a passion for innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork in every student. Whether it’s their first line of code or an advanced robotics challenge, we make learning fun, hands-on, and meaningful.

YCA Team Award:

Ocean Builders – Third Place Award
Underwater Quest – Third Place Award
Save the Ocean Team – Coding Award
Young Engineers – Best Performance Award

2023-2024 FLL Season: Masterpiece
In the 2023-2024 arts-inspired robotics season, creativity and technology came together to shape the future of entertainment, media, and the arts. This season challenged young innovators to design and build robotics solutions that enhance the ways people create, share, and experience artistic expression.

Throughout this competition-focused module, Young Coders explored the intersection of STEM and the arts, discovering how robotics, AI, and engineering can develop storytelling, music, visual arts, and performance. They learned about automation, interactive technology, and digital creativity, applying their skills to inspire new possibilities in artistic expression.

April 2024 FLL Beijing Station
Inspired by the Masterpiece theme, our teams built an interactive stage model that could host different performances. They used coding, robotics, and added lights and sounds, making the stage more exciting and interactive. Their projects showed not only their technical skills but also their creativity in combining technology with artistic elements.
Throughout the competition, the students worked together to solve problems, and engaged in active communication with each other. Every team member played an important role, making sure their project was interesting and that it followed the competition’s requirements
YCA Team Award:
YCA Team 1: Team Model Award
YCA Team 3: Core Values Award
YCA Team 2: Third Place Award
July 2024 FLL China Northern Conference Final – Beijing
The 2023-2024 First LEGO League China Region Playoff for the Northern Region Challenge has been an incredible journey for students and coaches at YCA. We were thrilled to share that our participation in this prestigious competition has culminated in a highly successful weekend. Our dedicated teams have achieved remarkable results, winning the Scientific Exploration Star Award, Challenge Solution Award and having secured Third Place Award in the competition. This outstanding performance has earned YCA a sought-after ticket to the ASIA Open Finals in Hong Kong next month.
YCA Team Award:
YCA Team 1: Scientific Exploration Star Award
YCA Team 2: Third Place Award
YCA Team 3: Challenge Solution Award
August 2024 Asia Open Championship – Hong Kong

At the international championship, our team designed a vibrant, solar-powered city brought to life with windmills and renewable energy. Their spectacular music show, powered entirely by sustainable energy, showcased creativity and innovation. They also introduced Minecraft as a unique artistic medium, blending coding with creative expression. Their ingenuity and passion earned them the Challenge Solution Award!.
YCA Team Award:
Challenge Solution Award
Our YCA curriculum expands to competitions and showcases as a fun and exciting way for students to learn and grow their STEM skills. These events inspire creativity, encourage teamwork, and help students build lasting friendships. Collaborating as a team to participate in local, regional, or even global events provides an exciting learning experience that not only ignites students’ interest but also creates lasting memories and friendships. In competitions like VEX Robotics or FIRST LEGO LEAGUE (FLL), students have the opportunity to enhance their collaboration skills and develop essential teamwork abilities
Our competition-focused programs allow young engineers to engage multiple senses during each session, significantly improving their ability to fully understand and retain what they have learned. You may learn some more about our competition weekend program here.

YCA Creative Series

We’re thrilled to introduce the YCA Creative Series—a year-long celebration of creativity, innovation, and family bonding! Through themed LEGO challenges, students get the chance to express their creativity, tell stories through building, and share their ideas with the YCA community.

How to Join
· Create – Build a LEGO model inspired by our challenge theme. · Record – Submit a short 30-60 second video showcasing your creation and explaining its meaning. · Send to YCA – Share your video by scanning the QR code below before the deadline.
Parents play a key role in capturing and submitting their child’s creative work, making this a fun family experience!
Rewards Recognition
· E-Certificate – All participants receive a certificate of creativity! · Social Media Feature – Selected projects will be showcased on our official platforms.

FLL Competition – 2025-26

On December 13, 2025, as our students gathered for the FIRST LEGO League Beijing Regional Competition, it felt like more than just another event.

For many of them, it was a continuation of a journey that started years ago.

Over the past four seasons, Young Coders Academy students have taken part in FIRST LEGO League year after year — learning, growing, and progressing together. Each season has brought new challenges, new teammates, and new levels of responsibility. And each season, our students have moved forward.

To learn more about our team’s accomplishments, check out our WeChat Article.

FLL Competition
FLL Competition awards
FLL Competition photo

Battle Bot Competition – Sep 2025

Our Battle Bot Challenge brought together Juniors and Teens ready to step into real engineering and coding with VEX robots. Working in teams of 2–3, students had two intense hours in the “pit build” session to plan, design, build, and code their battle bots before entering the qualifiers.

Each team competed in three exciting matches, testing not only their technical skills but also their strategy, teamwork, and resilience under pressure. Emotions ran high as robots clashed on the field — and the energy in the room was incredible!

Families joined us to cheer from the sidelines, making the event even more special. All teams received medals and certificates to celebrate their hard work, while the winning teams proudly took home trophies.

Most importantly, students experienced the thrill of real competition, problem-solving in action, and the joy of engineering brought to life.

To learn more about our team’s accomplishments, check out our WeChat Article.

YCA is dedicated to nurturing the tech innovators of tomorrow. We believe that programming is a means of creative thinking that is aimed at enriching the learning experience from an early age.

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Mr. lali

Lali is a dedicated Robotics Materials Manager and Technical Support Specialist with over six years of hands-on experience supporting robotics and coding programs for children. He plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of all robotics activities, overseeing equipment preparation, maintenance, and classroom readiness.

Highly skilled in robotics hardware, kits, and educational technology, Mr. Lali is responsible for troubleshooting technical issues, managing inventories, and providing on-the-spot technical support during classes, workshops, and competitions. His reliability and attention to detail ensure that instructors can focus on teaching while students enjoy uninterrupted, hands-on learning experiences.

With strong experience working directly with children, he supports safe, engaging, and well-organized robotics environments, making him an essential pillar of the learning ecosystem.

Ms. Zara

Ms. Zara is a dedicated educator with a Master's degree in Computer Science and dual Bachelor's degrees in Science and Education. With over seven years of teaching experience, she brings a deep understanding of both technology and pedagogy to the classroom. Ms. Zara. is highly skilled in integrating cutting-edge tools like Minecraft for block coding and LEGO robotics to create dynamic, hands-on learning environments

Her approach combines technical expertise with innovative teaching strategies, inspiring students to explore, create, and excel in the exciting world of coding and robotics. Committed to fostering a love for technology, she empowers young minds to develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a passion for learning.

Dr. Bob

A visionary educator with 10+ years of experience in teaching Coding, Robotics, and Computer Science, Dr. Bob has shaped young minds at some of Beijing’s most prestigious international schools, delivering IB and IGCSE curricula with excellence. Under his leadership, Young Coders Academy has emerged as a powerhouse in competitive robotics, guiding students to win multiple awards in national and international competitions over the past few years.

Holding a PhD in Computer Science and Technology from  Beijing University of Science and Technology, his research specialization in Artificial Intelligence is complemented by multiple scientific citation-indexed publications. A lifelong learner, he is also a Certified Python Programmer, Data Scientist, and BI Analyst, with a proven track record in developing web and mobile applications.

Proficient in Python, C++, C#, Java, and block-based coding platforms, Dr. Bob blends academic rigor with real-world tech expertise, inspiring the next generation of innovators.

Mr. Steve

Mr. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree and brings a strong background in IT education and curriculum development to our YCA team. With experience as both a trainer and developer, he is dedicated to keeping our programs at the cutting edge of technology. Steve is actively involved in the research and development of our curriculum, ensuring that our lessons include the latest advancements in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Software Development. Before joining YCA,Steve delivered hands-on training in technologies such as Python, Java, React, Angular, and Machine Learning. He also contributed to internal software projects and corporate training programs, giving him real-world industry experience that he brings into the classroom. At YCA, Mr. Steve teaches our Junior and Teenage Coders, and provides personalized one-on-one tutoring. He empowers students with practical digital skills while fostering problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. His passion for technology and teaching helps young learners stay curious, confident, and ready to thrive in a fast-changing digital world.

Ms. J.J.

Having recently joined our team, Ms. J.J. brings nearly a decade of experience in STEAM robotics education. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Education, she is passionate about delivering hands on, engaging engineering lessons to students from elementary to high school. Ms. J.J. has extensive experience coaching students in LEGO robotics (WeDo 2.0, EV3, and Robot Inventor) and VEX robotics competitions at all levels. Over the years, she has led student teams to international East Asian robotics competitions, earning multiple awards. She finds joy in her students’ achievements and takes pride in helping students discover their full potential and develop confidence in their abilities. Her teaching approach combines technical expertise with hands-on learning, empowering students to develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills through robotics. Committed to inspiring the next generation of innovators, Ms. J.J. fosters a dynamic and supportive learning environment where students can explore and advance in the world of technology.

Mr. Owen

Mr. Owen holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and a Master of Science in Engineering Education with a specialization in Computer Engineering. With over 15 years of experience teaching primary and secondary students, he has developed a passion for making complex concepts approachable and enjoyable for learners of all ages. Mr. Owen excels at teaching programming languages such as Scratch, Python, Java, and C, always adapting his lessons to meet the needs of his students.
One of his key strengths is his patient and supportive teaching style, which helps students build confidence in their abilities. Mr. Owen is particularly adept at introducing Python to younger students, starting with G1. He uses EduBlocks, a visual programming tool, to ease their transition to text-based syntax, ensuring a smooth and engaging learning experience. His ability to bring out the best in his students has earned him a reputation as a dedicated and inspiring educator, fostering a love for coding and problem-solving in his classroom.

Ms. Zoe

With a B.A. in Computer Science from the University of Adelaide, Ms. Zoe is passionate about mathematics, algorithm design, and introductory AI. She excels in providing personalized support through one-on-one tutoring for students from Grade 2 up to college level. Leveraging her expertise in Python, C++, and HTML, she designs engaging, challenging courses that inspire and motivate her students, taking pride in their progress and achievements.
Ms. Zoe’s teaching experience extends to early childhood education, where she introduces young learners to foundational coding skills through icon-based block coding and LEGO robotics engineering. She delivers these concepts in a fun, approachable manner, fostering early comprehension and a love for learning. Her proven track record demonstrates a strong ability to help students both understand and apply the concepts they learn.

Mr. Guy

With over four years of teaching experience, Mr. Guy transforms popular platforms like Minecraft and Roblox into powerful educational tools for kids in grades 1 through 8. A passionate gamer himself, he leverages the excitement of gaming to teach students block coding through MakeBlock and Tynker in Minecraft Education, as well as Lua scripting in Roblox Studio.
Mr. Guy’s robotics classes are packed with challenging tasks that inspire creativity and critical thinking. He values self exploration, encouraging students to push boundaries and discover their own solutions. With his guidance, kids don’t just play—they learn essential coding and problem-solving skills in a fun, hands-on way.

Ms. K.k

Ms. K.K. is a dedicated educator with a Master’s degree in Computer Science and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Science and Education. With over seven years of teaching experience, she brings a deep understanding of both technology and pedagogy to the classroom. Ms. K.K. is highly skilled in integrating cutting-edge tools like Minecraft for block coding and LEGO robotics to create dynamic, hands-on learning environments
Her approach combines technical expertise with innovative teaching strategies, inspiring students to explore, create, and excel in the exciting world of coding and robotics. Committed to fostering a love for technology, she empowers young minds to develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a passion for learning.