Frequently Asked Questions

CanSTEAM Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing student interest, involvement, and accessibility to practical STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education through robotics competitions and hands-on programs.

CanSTEAM Foundation is based in Markham, Ontario, Canada. We primarily serve students across Ontario through VEX Robotics competitions and STEAM programs.

CanSTEAM is funded through a combination of competition registration fees, corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and grants. All funds directly support student programs, equipment, and event operations.

VEX Robotics is the world's largest robotics competition platform for students. Teams design, build, and program robots to compete in annual game challenges. VEX offers programs for elementary through high school students.

We support VEX IQ Competition (grades 3-8) and VEX V5RC (grades 7-12). VEX IQ uses a snap-together building system ideal for beginners, while V5RC uses metal construction for more advanced engineering challenges.

The season runs from September to April. Teams attend regional qualifier events from October through February to earn spots at the Ontario Provincial Championships held in March-April. Top provincial teams may qualify for the VEX Worlds Championship.

The full competition calendar, results, and registration are available on our dedicated site at vexontario.ca.

Contact us at info@cansteam.org to get started. We'll help you choose the right program, provide guidance on equipment, and connect you with resources including coach training and starter kits for qualifying schools.

Each team needs a VEX robot kit (IQ or V5), a competition field or practice elements, and a computer for programming. CanSTEAM offers equipment grants and free starter kits to underserved schools and community organizations.

No prior experience is needed. VEX IQ is specifically designed for beginners with its snap-together system. Many successful teams start with no robotics background — the program teaches engineering thinking, programming, and teamwork from the ground up.

VEX IQ and V5RC teams typically have 3-6 members. Schools and organizations can register multiple teams if they have enough students and equipment.

We need volunteers for event day roles (referees, judges, queue managers), mentorship, and administrative support. Contact us at info@cansteam.org or visit our Get Involved page.

Yes! We welcome corporate sponsorships at various levels. Sponsorships fund equipment grants, competition subsidies, and travel support for underserved teams. Contact info@cansteam.org for sponsorship details.

Absolutely. We provide support with event planning, field setup, volunteer coordination, and day-of logistics. Hosting a qualifier is a great way to bring the robotics community to your school.