Houston EVA Assists in EV Boot Camp

Pro-Vision Academy, in partnership with The Green Thumb Academy, Inc., hosted a summer enrichment camp featuring Legacy EV electric go-carts. Designed for 5th–8th graders, the program gave students hands-on experience while Houston EVA volunteers coached about the build process. Installing motors, batteries, gears, chains, and electrical wiring—along with Bill Swann’s commentary on energy and speed—made the experience both educational and fun.

The opportunity followed Houston EVA’s May presentation from Legacy EV, where Tom Santill introduced EV technology education products and demonstrated how student-built electric carts can make technical learning tangible and engaging.

When Marvin Pierre of Pro-Vision Academy contacted Houston EVA in June about the school’s EV Boot Camp, chapter members William Swan, Collin Loewen, Jim Thompson, Kevin Douglass, and Robert Charles stepped in to support the weeklong summer skills camp. Timesha Beattie, Director of Education with The Green Thumb Academy, launched the effort and kept the team supplied, organized, and focused on the students.

Working on a compressed schedule with limited preparation time, the team prioritized hands-on assembly over classroom theory so students could participate directly in the build process and ultimately drive one of two Innovators Club electric go-karts.

The program was both challenging and rewarding, and Houston EVA looks forward to expanding future EV projects because the Innovators Club carts can be reused and integrated into the ongoing curriculum.

As demand for EV technicians continues to grow, Houston EVA remains committed to advancing EV technology education across the region through partnerships with schools, districts, colleges, and maker spaces. Learn more at houstoneva.org.

Evolve Houston, a nonprofit advocating for EV adoption by connecting industry, government, and community, provided grants for the curriculum purchase.

Many thanks to Pro-Vision Academy and Green Thumb Academy for providing this special opportunity.