Middle School Programs (7-8)

First Lego League Challenge (FLL-C) uses Lego Spike Prime to challenge students in a 2.5 minute autonomous robot game.  Students learn the FIRST core values and apply them through robot design, game competition, and a research project based on the year's theme.  Students (grades 3-7) work ~5 months meeting 2x per week from August to February.  Students must tryout for this program.

First Technical Challenge (FTC) teams design and build robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards. Participants are eligible to apply for $80M+ in college scholarships.  Teams design using CAD and program their robots in Java and compete in multiple tournaments in the season.  Teams meet 3x per week.  Travel required.  

Students must tryout for this program.

Our battle bots teams compete in the NRC, XtremeBots, Ohio Bots League, and other competitions in the 1lb/3lb classes.  Teams design and build the robot base and weapons to compete in multiple competition events using Fusion and 3D printed components along with motors, speed controllers, and other purchased parts.  Teams meet 1x-2x per week over 6-8 months​.  Travel (2.5 hrs) required with some competitions during school.

Drones in School is a unique educational program that develops aeronautics, engineering, project management, entrepreneurship, graphic design, and marketing skills. The program challenges students to go beyond their current skills by participating in high speed drone racing.  Students meet 1x - 2x per week.  Some travel may be required.

VEX IQ uses the VEX system and a fun annual game to learn about engineering and coding.  Students use Python to code a robot that competes in a 1 minute game with an alliance member.  Students (grades 6-8) meet 2x per week and work in small groups in their team to design the best robot and strategy to maximize their points.  Tryouts are required.

Our advanced middle school students can apply to become part of our National Robotics Challenge (NRC) teams.  These teams compete in a variety of challenges in smaller groups.  Students design parts and utilize purchased parts including gears, motors, programming, and remote control.  Students must be invited or tryout to join.

We are looking for volunteers and mentors to help our center grow.  Volunteers work together and are trained to help you guide our students to their best abilities.  Volunteers will receive credit for their students, shirt, and help shape the center for the future programs we offer.  Contact us to learn more.

We are offering tuition assistance and fundraising options to reduce or even eliminate program costs for our competition teams.  To fill out an application you must click on the sign up now button and create an account in Playmetrics.  From there you can fill out our tuition assistance form.

Have a business interested in becoming a sponsor?  We have sponsorship levels that include t-shirt inclusion, robot branding, building branding, and newsletter outreach.  Our communications reach 1000s of professionals and families in the Mason area. Funds directly help our future engineering and manufacturing innovators.