Chadstone — In person
Forge Innovation Camp
A holistic five-day experience with physical, robotic and digital solution options.
11–15 January 2027
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Forge Innovation Camp · Discover. Create. Lead.
Five days. One big idea. A world of possibilities.
Discover a meaningful challenge, collaborate with a team, create and test a solution, explore entrepreneurship and present your ideas.
Australia · Three ways to take part
Explore Other Summer Options
Choose the broader in-person Chadstone camp or a digital-focused live online or self-paced challenge.
Live online — Digital
Forge Digital Innovation Challenge
Facilitated Zoom collaboration supported by approved Forge learning activities.
Proposed 18–22 January 2027
Self-paced — Digital
Forge Digital Innovation Challenge
Five primarily individual missions through Forge with a defined support package.
Access dates to be confirmed
11–15 January 2027In-person · Chadstone$297 per dayEnrolment open
One connected five-day experience
Summer innovation, brought together.
Students discover a challenge, collaborate, create, innovate and present. Robotics and AI are meaningful supporting tools within a much broader educational journey.
At Innovate Forge Academy, our Summer Innovation Camp brings together design thinking, leadership, technology, entrepreneurship and communication in one connected five-day learning experience.
Students begin by exploring a meaningful challenge and understanding the people it affects. They develop ideas, practise teamwork and communication, create a prototype or demonstration, and explore how their solution might create value.
Along the way, students may use robotics, coding and supervised AI activities as tools for making, testing and improving ideas.
The camp concludes with a Forge Challenge Showcase, where teams share their solutions, explain what they learned and reflect on their contributions.
Our coaching-led approach encourages curiosity, independent thinking, collaboration, responsible decision-making and purposeful communication. The programme is designed to create opportunities for students with different interests and strengths to contribute.
These are intended learning opportunities. Individual improvements in confidence, leadership or entrepreneurial success are not guaranteed.
The Forge Innovation Challenge
How might we create something that makes an everyday experience better for someone?
Teams choose from a small number of facilitator-approved, age-appropriate scenarios, then follow one inquiry from understanding people to testing and communicating a response.
Who?
Who might benefit?
What?
What problem or need are we addressing?
Why?
Why does it matter?
How?
What solution could we create?
Test
How can we learn whether our idea works?
Value
What useful benefit could it offer?
Communicate
How can we explain our idea clearly?
Possible challenge themes
- Improving a school or learning experience
- Helping people organise or access resources
- Encouraging environmental responsibility
- Improving an everyday community experience
- Creating an inclusive activity or service
Different ideas can take shape
- A model robot or automated device
- A simple coded prototype
- A digital product concept
- A physical invention
- An educational resource
- A proposed service
- A community initiative
Every team does not have to build the same robot or launch a real business. Challenge options are matched to confirmed staffing, equipment and student experience.
Five-day learning journey
One idea, developed from discovery to showcase.
Each day builds on the work before it. The programme is designed as a connected five-day experience, not five unrelated introductory workshops.
Day 1 · MON · 11 JAN
Discover & Design
Explore a real-world challenge and shape a thoughtful response.
Educational focus: Design thinking, observation, empathy, creative problem-solving and idea generation.
Students
- Meet the team and explore the camp challenge
- Investigate a facilitator-approved scenario and the people it affects
- Explore different needs and perspectives
- Define a clear problem statement
- Generate, compare and sketch possible solutions
Student output
- Problem statement
- Intended audience or user profile
- Initial solution concepts
- Preferred concept sketch
Educators use guided questions, observation, discussion, simple user scenarios and age-appropriate design-thinking activities.
Day 2 · TUE · 12 JAN
Speak & Lead
Build confidence, collaborate and communicate ideas with purpose.
Educational focus: Communication, public speaking, teamwork, leadership, listening and collaboration.
Students
- Explore different ways to contribute to a team
- Establish team agreements, responsibilities and respectful ways of working
- Practise active listening and explain the concept to someone else
- Ask useful questions and respond to feedback
- Refine the idea and practise a short, structured concept presentation
Student output
- Team agreement
- Team roles and responsibilities
- Refined concept
- Short concept presentation
Leadership is not limited to being outspoken. Students can contribute through different strengths and communication styles.
Day 3 · WED · 13 JAN
Create with Technology
Code, build and test a technology-powered creation.
Educational focus: Technology, prototyping, coding, robotics, AI literacy and iterative experimentation.
Students
- Turn the team concept into an achievable prototype or demonstrator
- Select suitable tools, then build, programme or model a solution
- Conduct initial tests and record what worked and what did not
- Use approved VEX IQ kits in an appropriate hands-on robotics activity
- Explore responsible AI prompting through the approved Forge environment or an educator-led demonstration
Student output
- Prototype, model or demonstrator
- Initial test evidence
- Example AI prompt and verification, where AI is used
- Notes for improvement
Robotics may be a project option and/or a shared guided experience; it does not make every final concept a robot. Hardware, compatible sensors and any optional AI Vision Sensor demonstration depend on confirmed equipment and preparation.
Day 4 · THU · 14 JAN
Innovate & Entrepreneur
Turn an idea into a solution with an audience and story.
Educational focus: Innovation, entrepreneurial thinking, enterprise building, value creation and feasibility.
Students
- Revisit the original need, test the solution and make improvements
- Identify the audience and the useful benefit the solution could offer
- Explore required resources, practical constraints and age-appropriate cost considerations
- Consider whether the concept could become a product, service or community initiative
- Develop a value proposition and prepare the final pitch
Student output
- Improved solution or prototype
- Intended audience description
- Value proposition
- Simple enterprise or initiative model
- Pitch outline
This is an educational venture simulation. Enterprise may create social, community, educational or economic value; students do not register businesses, collect payments, enter agreements or make real financial commitments.
Day 5 · FRI · 15 JAN
Forge Challenge & Showcase
Bring the week together and share the journey.
Educational focus: Integration, demonstration, public speaking, presentation, teamwork and reflection.
Students
- Finalise the proposed solution and prepare a clear team presentation
- Demonstrate the prototype or concept and explain the original challenge
- Describe who may benefit and share evidence from testing or feedback
- Explain changes, limitations and possible next steps
- Reflect on individual contributions, with an appropriate contribution opportunity for every student
Student output
- Team innovation pitch
- Prototype or concept showcase
- Individual learning reflection
- Completed Forge Challenge Portfolio
Parents or guests may attend only if showcase attendance and supervision arrangements are confirmed.
What will my child create and learn?
A solution, a shared story and a record of learning.
By the end of the week, each team will have worked towards an original solution concept, a prototype or demonstration, and a presentation explaining their idea and learning journey. Each student will also complete an individual reflection on their contribution, new skills and next steps.
A fully functioning product, successful business or commercial invention is not guaranteed. A partially working prototype with clear reasoning, testing and reflection remains a meaningful educational outcome.
Forge Challenge Portfolio
- 01Problem statement
- 02User or audience profile
- 03Initial ideas and design sketch
- 04Team agreement and responsibilities
- 05Prototype or demonstrator
- 06Testing and improvement evidence
- 07AI-use reflection, if AI was used
- 08Value proposition or initiative concept
- 09Team pitch
- 10Individual reflection
Intended learning opportunities
Capabilities that connect across the week.
The camp creates practical opportunities across nine disciplines. These are learning intentions, not guaranteed developmental outcomes.
Design thinking
Understand a user need and define a challenge.
Innovation
Generate, explore and improve original ideas.
Technology
Use appropriate technology to prototype, programme or demonstrate a solution.
AI literacy
Practise responsible prompting and verify AI-generated suggestions.
Teamwork
Collaborate and contribute to a shared project.
Leadership
Practise initiative, responsibility and consideration for others.
Entrepreneurship
Explore audiences, value and practical enterprise concepts.
Communication
Explain ideas clearly and deliver an age-appropriate presentation.
Reflection
Describe personal contributions, challenges and next steps.
Day 3 supporting tools
Technology serves the idea.
VEX IQ robotics, coding and supervised AI activities support making, testing and improving ideas. They do not define the whole camp or require every final solution to be a robot.
VEX IQ robotics
Approved VEX IQ kits may support building, movement programming, compatible sensor work, testing and troubleshooting. Only confirmed equipment and sensors will be used; no individual kit or device is promised.
Responsible AI prompting
Students develop their own ideas first, then learn to state context, goal, constraints and a question before checking suggestions against observations or reliable evidence.
Forge is not presented as directly controlling VEX IQ robots, and ordinary sensor programming is not described as AI. Any compatible AI Vision Sensor demonstration depends on confirmed hardware, preparation and teaching approval.
Coaching, mentoring and support
Guidance for the challenge and the learner.
The camp connects to the proposed Forge Growth & Care Framework through supportive educational relationships and clear professional boundaries.
Coaching
Educators guide students through questions, feedback, reflection and practical challenges.
Mentoring
Educators encourage students to explore strengths, interests and future possibilities.
Pastoral care
The learning environment is designed to be inclusive, respectful and child-safe.
The camp does not promise an individual mentor, clinical counselling or guaranteed confidence gains. Safeguarding, consent and supervision requirements apply.
Different starting points
Guidance can adapt without dividing the journey.
The same challenge can provide more structure for beginners and greater independence for experienced learners. Confirmed age bands and cohort groupings will be communicated through the enrolment process.
Beginners
- Guided challenge scenarios and structured design activities
- Supported prototype development
- Simple communication tasks
- Facilitator-led AI demonstrations where appropriate
Experienced learners
- More independent problem definition
- Greater prototyping complexity and additional testing
- More detailed enterprise considerations
- More sophisticated presentation requirements
Practical information
Summer 2027 at Chadstone.
Five-day in-person experience, 11–15 January 2027, at our chadstone centre (waterman business centre – chadstone shopping centre). $297 per day.
Details confirmed through enrolment
Operational details to check
The following details are not stated as confirmed on this page. Families should rely on the current enrolment information or contact the Academy before making plans.
- Student age range and cohort groupings
- Daily start and finish times
- Full-week and single-day attendance rules
- Instructor assignments and staff-to-student supervision
- VEX IQ kit quantities, available sensors and equipment-to-student ratios
- Devices, software, approved AI tools and student access
- Fee inclusions, break and lunch arrangements
- Parent showcase, consent and safeguarding arrangements
Friday team pitch
Explain the journey, not just the result.
- 1 The challenge
- 2 The people affected
- 3 Our proposed solution
- 4 Our prototype or demonstration
- 5 What we tested and learned
- 6 Why our idea could be useful
- 7 What we would improve next
Parent FAQs
Before the week begins.
Answers reflect the published camp details and clearly identify arrangements that still need confirmation.
Is this mainly a robotics or AI camp?
No. It is one connected innovation experience spanning design thinking, teamwork, leadership, communication, technology, enterprise and reflection. Robotics, coding and supervised AI may support the work, especially on Day 3.
Does every team build the same robot?
No. Teams may create a model robot, coded prototype, digital concept, physical invention, educational resource, service or community initiative. The solution type must suit the approved challenge and available resources.
What will my child create?
Each team works towards an original solution concept, a prototype or demonstration and a presentation. Each student also completes an individual reflection and contributes to a Forge Challenge Portfolio.
Do students need previous experience?
No confirmed prerequisite is published. Activities can provide greater structure for beginners and added complexity for experienced learners, subject to the approved cohort and delivery plan.
How will AI be used?
Students first develop their own ideas, then may practise context, goal, constraints, question and verification through an approved Forge learning environment or educator-led demonstration. No unapproved service account is required.
Can students attend individual days?
The programme is designed as one connected five-day experience. Full-week and any single-day attendance rules must be confirmed through the enrolment process; individual days are not presented here as standalone programmes.
Are the dates, venue and fee confirmed?
The current approved public details are 11–15 January 2027, in person at our Chadstone centre (Waterman Business Centre – Chadstone Shopping Centre), at $297 per day. Enrolment is open through the linked booking page.
Will parents attend the final showcase?
Parent or guest attendance is not currently promised. Any attendance, consent and supervision arrangements will be communicated if approved.
Join the Forge Innovation Camp.
Five connected days of discovery, design, teamwork, technology, enterprise and presentation — 11–15 January 2027 at Chadstone, $297 per day.