Frequently Asked Questions
Students are billed on the 1st of each month and your student's seat is reserved for them at the same time each week. Students are required to let us know by the 25th of each month if they are not returning. Cancellations made after the 25th will receive an 80% refund. There will be no refunds once classes have begun. If you wish to change your child's class time, please contact us directly (see 'Schedule Change Request' button above). Please note, Mindstorms Fundamentals and Scratch Introduction payments will not recur until your student moves up to the next level.
No. We are a small family business dedicated to the small class sizes and great teachers that provide such enriching experiences for children. We will try to schedule a make-up class if at all possible, but usually it is not. Young Engineer and Robot Academy, Jr. students who have opted for the take home kit will have the opportunity to build missed projects at home once they receive their kits.
The take home kit option is available for Young Engineers and Robot Academy, Jr. students only. Students have the same in-class experience each week. Students opting for the take home kit are given a 3-in-1 kit to take home at the end of each month with access to the pre-recorded video classes. In addition to building a great LEGO Technic home library, the purchase program allows students to make-up missed projects and rebuild their favorite projects at home.
Go to https://www.therobotgarage.com and click on the Subscription Login button in the upper right. Here you will enter the email address used to purchase your subscription. We will immediately send an email to that address with the code you will need to enter the portal. Enter the code where indicated and you're logged in!
Kits are ineligible for return. We have stringent quality control expectations but should you find you are missing a piece, please notify us within 10 days of kit receipt. For the LEGO WeDO starter kit, Refunds, repairs, and/or replacements are made if we determine an item is defective. It is the customer's responsibility to handle these 3 electronic pieces carefully. Please contact us at programs@therobotgarage.com if you need to discuss a WeDo quality problem. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer.
Deposits on birthday parties, field trips, and other special events are non-refundable.
Classes may be cancelled anytime before the 25th of each month for the upcoming month. Cancellations made after the 25th will receive an 80% refund. There will be no refunds once classes have begun.
Camps may be returned up to 10 days before the first session for a 10% registration fee. Between 9 and 1 day before the first session, a 50% refund is available. No refund is available once the program has begun.
In the case of discipline issues, we reserve the right to remove students from programs with no refund. There will be a $1 per minute charge for students picked up more than 15 minutes after the event ends. Students will not be refunded for missed classes.
Our guided video classes for use at home are designed to provide about 3 hours a month of parent/child (or often grandparent/child) enrichment and exploration and we highly recommend adult participation.
For in-person classes adults are welcome to stay but we generally discourage it. Our teachers are experts at what they do. They recognize that students mature differently at this age and in addition to a top tier goal that each student completes each project successfully, they are working behind the scenes to build confidence and independence which can be more challenging with parents helping. We do encourage parents to join the class each week at the end to see what their children have built.
For Virtual Classes, students can join at the start of any month and are billed monthly. Payments can be paused or stopped at any time before the 20th of each month. Please email us at programs@therobotgarage.com if you’d like to stop your next payment.
For in-person classes students can join at the start of any month, although they can join mid month if we have an open spot. In-person classes can be cancelled at any time before the 25th of each month. Cancellations made after the 25th will receive a 80% refund. There will be no refunds once classes have begun.
Virtual video class subscriptions are designed to reach students anywhere in the world. Because students have access to the kits and videos at home projects can be done at their own pace. Pause the video and take a break or replay a section that didn't make sense the first time.
In-person classes are a more traditional environment with other students and at teacher leading the class and assisting as needed. There is an option for students to purchase a take home kit for an additional fee.
In both cases, students have access to the same great teachers, and same great projects. In-person classes cost more to cover our instructors’ costs.
Once you receive your first kit, you will simply log into the video portal on our website and will automatically receive access to your videos each month.
-1 Motor
-1 Battery Pack
-1 Brick Separator
-1 Minifigure
-1 16 stud x 16 stud plate
Not at all! Our parties are designed for everyone, regardless of prior LEGO or robotics experience. Our team ensures each child understands the activities, so everyone can join in on the fun!
We don’t just celebrate birthdays—we create memorable experiences. From battling sumo robots to designing Hexbug mazes, our activities engage children, their friends, and families. With 95% of our party guests ranking their experience as one of the best parties they’ve ever attended, we know how to make your child’s day extra special.
Our team is here to make your party stress-free! From guiding the kids through each activity to helping with food service, we handle all the details. Our goal is to ensure both you and your child have an unforgettable experience!
Our booking form has up-to-date availability, so you can easily see open dates when scheduling. We recommend booking at least 6 weeks in advance for the best selection, but last-minute openings may also be available!
The base party price includes up to 10 children. Additional guests can be accommodated for an extra fee. For groups of 24+, we recommend adding an extra room to ensure everyone has plenty of space to enjoy the activities comfortably.
Our regular office hours are Monday-Thursday from 1 PM to 5 PM EST. We are also available various hours during programming on evenings and weekends. If we are not available when you call please leave us a message, or send us an email to programs@therobotgarage.com and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
We are generally open most weekday afternoons but actual hours vary based on our in-house programs and events. We do still have a small retail area but generally do not have drop-in activities. If you are curious if our store is open, please give us a call in advance. For a list of events being offered in-store, please refer to our 'Events' tab.
You can visit our online store at shop.therobotgarage.com or visit us in-person in Birmingham, Michigan. Our store is open to the public but hours vary based on in store events, so give us a call first to make sure we are open at that time.
Yes! Be sure to check out our Birthday Party Page for all the information you need! Any unanswered questions can either be emailed to us or give us a call.
Our guided video classes for use at home are designed to provide about 3 hours a month of parent/child (or often grandparent/child) enrichment and exploration and we highly recommend adult participation.
For in-person classes adults are welcome to stay but we generally discourage it. Our teachers are experts at what they do. They recognize that students mature differently at this age and in addition to a top tier goal that each student completes each project successfully, they are working behind the scenes to build confidence and independence which can be more challenging with parents helping. We do encourage parents to join the class each week at the end to see what their children have built.
For Virtual Classes, students can join at the start of any month and are billed monthly. Payments can be paused or stopped at any time before the 20th of each month. Please email us at programs@therobotgarage.com if you’d like to stop your next payment.
For in-person classes students can join at the start of any month, although they can join mid month if we have an open spot. In-person classes can be cancelled at any time before the 25th of each month. Cancellations made after the 25th will receive a 80% refund. There will be no refunds once classes have begun.
Virtual video class subscriptions are designed to reach students anywhere in the world. Because students have access to the kits and videos at home projects can be done at their own pace. Pause the video and take a break or replay a section that didn't make sense the first time.
In-person classes are a more traditional environment with other students and at teacher leading the class and assisting as needed. There is an option for students to purchase a take home kit for an additional fee.
In both cases, students have access to the same great teachers, and same great projects. In-person classes cost more to cover our instructors’ costs.
Guided video classes walk students through building and coding, step-by-step, and enable them to learn at their own pace.
Once you receive your first kit, you will simply log into the video portal on our website and will automatically receive access to your videos each month.
It’s an investment in learning that will last for years to come, both because of its quality, and its infinite applications.
$119 WeDo Starter Materials Include:
1 Lego WeDo 2.0 Smart Hub
1 Lego WeDo 2.0 Motion Sensor
1 Lego We Do 2.0 Medium Motor
1 Brick Separator
1 Minifigure
1 16 stud x 16 stud plate
While the Young Engineers materials fee just uses a battery pack and motor to move, Robot Academy, Jr. integrates LEGO WeDo 2.0 Robotic Coding and includes three costly electronic components including a hub, motion sensor, and motor. These materials aren't a one-time-use parts, but rather an investment in robotic components that can be used for countless future projects.
Nope! Our classes operate on a progressive basis. Fundamentals introduces students of all skill levels to the basics of robotic engineering, and then progressively incorporates more to each weekly session. By the end of the six week session, all students are equipped with the knowledge to enroll in our Robotic Challenges courses, where they will apply everything they've learned to overcome the trial-and-error process of robotic engineering.
MIT’s Scratch program is kind of the LEGO of coding. It’s used by millions around the world and teaches complex concepts and problem solving logic with age-appropriate tools. “With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community” https://scratch.mit.edu
While we use other coding languages for older students, those are not yet available as part of the on-demand subscription program. Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century.
We’ve been teaching Scratch for years and have developed a unique teaching formula to address questions that can arise. We know where kids get confused and we address this head on with each project. The goal is to have each student design 3 new games a month they can be proud of. There is no question that success leads to confidence which leads to continued engagement and learning… painlessly.
For Virtual Classes, students can join at the start of any month and are billed monthly. Payments can be paused or stopped at any time before the 20th of each month. Please email us at programs@therobotgarage.com if you’d like to stop your next payment.
For in-person classes students can join at the start of any month, although they can join mid month if we have an open spot. In-person classes can be cancelled at any time before the 25th of each month. Cancellations made after the 25th will receive a 80% refund. There will be no refunds once classes have begun.
Virtual video class subscriptions are designed to reach students anywhere in the world. Because students have access to the videos at home projects can be done at their own pace. Pause the video and take a break or replay a section that didn't make sense the first time.
In-person classes are a more traditional environment with other students and at teacher leading the class and assisting as needed.
In both cases, students have access to the same great teachers, and same great projects. In-person classes cost more to cover our instructors’ costs.
The video portal is where you will find all of the welcome videos needed to get everything set up. These videos will explain how to make an account and navigate the website. Step 1: Click on the Subscription Login button in the upper right. Here you will enter the email address used to purchase your subscription. Step 2: We will immediately send an email to that address with the code you will need to enter the portal. Enter the code where indicated and you're logged in! Step 3: Once you have watched the Welcome videos, you’re ready to start your first lesson. As a bonus to new families, we have included three Introduction to Scratch classes to help familiarize students with the Scratch environment and coding basics.
Scratch can be run using most current web browsers on laptops, desktops, and tablets. We recommend using a second screen to keep both the video and Scratch programming screen up at all times.
MIT’s Scratch program is kind of the LEGO of coding. It’s used by millions around the world and teaches complex concepts and problem solving logic with age-appropriate tools. “With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community” https://scratch.mit.edu
While we use other coding languages for older students, those are not yet available as part of the on-demand subscription program. Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century.
We’ve been teaching Scratch for years and have developed a unique teaching formula to address questions that can arise. We know where kids get confused and we address this head on with each project. The goal is to have each student design 3 new games a month they can be proud of. There is no question that success leads to confidence which leads to continued engagement and learning….painlessly.
Absolutely. Your subscription will renew monthly based on your purchase date (or every 3 months if you purchase the 3-month bundle. You can cancel or pause your subscription any time before it renews by contacting us at Tibor@therobotgarage.com
Absolutely. If you are in the Southeast Michigan area we offer in person classes at our Birmingham location from September thru June.
The video portal is where you will find all of the welcome videos needed to get everything set up. These videos will explain how to make an account and navigate the website. Step 1: Click on the Subscription Login button in the upper right. Here you will enter the email address used to purchase your subscription. Step 2: We will immediately send an email to that address with the code you will need to enter the portal. Enter the code where indicated and you're logged in! Step 3: Once you have watched the Welcome videos, you’re ready to start your first lesson. As a bonus to new families, we have included three Introduction to Scratch classes to help familiarize students with the Scratch environment and coding basics.
Scratch can be run using most current web browsers on laptops, desktops, and tablets. We recommend using a second screen to keep both the video and Scratch programming screen up at all times.
This includes the electronics your child will need to bring their robots to life.
-LEGO WeDo 2.0 Hub: This is your robot’s brain. It transmits data between a tablet or desktop computer and your robot’s components using low-energy Bluetooth technology.
-LEGO WeDo 2.0 Motion Sensor: Sensors give robots information about the world around them. This motion sensor can detect objects or motion within a range of 15 cm.
-LEGO WeDo 2.0 Motor: This gets your robot moving! Your motor can be programmed to move at different levels and to turn clockwise or counterclockwise
-LEGO 16 x 16 plate
-LEGO brick separator
-LEGO Mini Figure
-Engineering Dictionary
-Customized Ruler
Not at all! These classes are designed for the novice as well as students with prior experience.
You can cancel or pause your subscription renewal at any time. Students get new projects each month to keep learning but we understand life can get busy.
Once you receive your first kit, you will simply log into the video portal on our website and will automatically receive access to your videos each month.
Our guided video classes for use at home are designed to provide about 3 hours a month of parent/child (or often grandparent/child) enrichment and exploration and we highly recommend adult participation. In-person classes can be attended by adults but we discourage it. Our classes are limited to 7 students and our Young Engineers teachers are experts at what they do. They recognize that students mature differently at this age and in addition to a top tier goal that each student completes each project successfully, they are working behind the scenes to build confidence and independence which can be more challenging with parents helping. We do encourage parents to join the class each week at the end to see what their children have built, Covid-Safety permitting.
Children can join at the start of any month and are billed monthly. Payments can be paused or stopped at any time with 2 weeks notice. Please email us at Tibor@therobotgarage.com if you’d like to stop your next payment. That said, as long as children are engaged and having fun, they are learning. We see incredible changes at this age in fine motor skills, confidence, and independence, not to mention a pretty amazing grasp of engineering concepts.
Guided Video class subscriptions are designed to reach children anywhere in the world, and include the same monthly projects as the in-person classes.
In-person classes automatically include the monthly subscription program (video access, 3-in-1 kit, etc) but the students keep their new monthly LEGO kit at The Robot Garage to use in class each week, and then take it home at the end of each month. They may only need to use the videos if they miss a class, or they may want to rebuild class projects at home.
In-person classes cost more to cover instructors’ costs and overhead.
In both cases, students have access to the same great teachers, same great projects, and everything they need to start building a LEGO Technic library at home for future exploration and creativity. In-person classes cost more to cover our instructors’ costs.
Guided video classes walk students through building and coding, step-by-step, and enable them to learn at their own pace.
Once you receive your first kit, you will simply log into the video portal on our website and will automatically receive access to your videos each month.
It’s an investment in learning that will last for years to come, both because of its quality, and its infinite applications.
$119 WeDo Starter Materials Include:
1 Lego WeDo 2.0 Smart Hub
1 Lego WeDo 2.0 Motion Sensor
1 Lego We Do 2.0 Medium Motor
1 Brick Separator
1 Minifigure
1 16 stud x 16 stud plate
Our regular office hours are Monday-Thursday from 1 PM to 5 PM EST. We are also available various hours during programming on evenings and weekends. If we are not available when you call please leave us a message, or send us an email to programs@therobotgarage.com and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
We are generally open most weekday afternoons but actual hours vary based on our in-house programs and events. We do still have a small retail area but generally do not have drop-in activities. If you are curious if our store is open, please give us a call in advance. For a list of events being offered in-store, please refer to our 'Events' tab.
You can visit our online store at shop.therobotgarage.com or visit us in-person in Birmingham, Michigan. Our store is open to the public but hours vary based on in store events, so give us a call first to make sure we are open at that time.
Yes! Be sure to check out our Birthday Party Page for all the information you need! Any unanswered questions can either be emailed to us or give us a call.