Bringing LEGO Learning to Carnaval del Sol!

Chiquitzin, the Carnaval del Sol mascot joining in on the activities!

This past weekend, VRES had the opportunity to participate in Carnaval del Sol, bringing LEGO Arts and Robotics activities to one of Vancouver's most vibrant community festivals and the largest Latin American Festival in the Pacific Northwest! Surrounded by live performances, local vendors, and incredible food, our team spent the weekend introducing children and families to hands-on STEAM learning through play.

One of our volunteers introducing a visitor to LEGO Robotics!

From the moment the festival began, our booth was buzzing with creativity. Children eagerly sat down to build houses, restaurants, animals, and imaginative creations of their own. Others were drawn to LEGO Robotics, excited to see their builds come to life through movement and coding.

Watching children experiment, solve problems, and proudly share their creations with their families was one of the highlights of the weekend.

A young visitor following the Carnaval del Sol theme!

By Sunday, the festival had become even busier. Morena, who led VRES's participation at the event, watched as children continued returning to the booth to build one creation after another, with many spending 15 to 20 minutes exploring the activities. Alongside the excitement at the booth, many parents stopped to learn more about our Richmond summer camp and Volunteer Success Program, helping us connect with even more members of the community.

One of the weekend's biggest highlights was our Winning Goal LEGO Robotics activity. With excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup, the challenge quickly became a favourite among children, sparking conversations about robotics while giving them the chance to create something fun and interactive.

A young visitor giving our 'Winning Goal LEGO Robotics' activity a shot.

It was also exciting to see how differently children explored our activities. Some were immediately fascinated by the moving LEGO robots, while others gravitated toward LEGO Arts, carefully creating colourful projects to show their families. For many of our younger visitors, simply watching a robot move was enough to spark their curiosity and encourage them to start building their own.

A visitor attempting LEGO Arts.

None of this would have been possible without our volunteers, who welcomed families, guided activities, and helped children bring their ideas to life throughout the weekend. Their enthusiasm created a welcoming space where children felt comfortable exploring, asking questions, and trying something new. Community events like Carnaval del Sol are a wonderful opportunity to share VRES's mission beyond the classroom. Every conversation, every LEGO creation, and every new connection helps us inspire more children to discover the joy of learning through STEAM. A huge thank you to everyone who visited our booth, built with us, and learned more about VRES. We loved being part of Carnaval del Sol and are already looking forward to returning to more community events throughout the year!

Bryna and Morena posing with Chiquitzin!