Radicubs Summer Camp

From July 11 to 19, Radicubs Robotics opened our shop to students in 4th through 8th grade and gave them a chance to experience the world of competitive robotics firsthand. For many of these students, it was an opportunity to explore engineering in a way that is rarely accessible at their age, stepping into the same environment where an FRC team designs, builds, and tests its robots.

The centerpiece of the camp was an FRC kitbot, the starter chassis FIRST provides to teams each season. It is where many of our own members first learned the basics of robotics. Together with the campers, we built one from the ground up. They handed us bolts, watched components come together, and asked questions about everything from why the wheels spin to how the robot moves. Some of their questions even challenged us to think about familiar concepts in new ways.

Throughout the week, campers explored electronics, mechanical design, and programming, learning how wiring, motors, and code work together as one system. Rather than simply listening to explanations, they participated in hands-on activities and small engineering challenges that let them apply what they learned. Some even had the opportunity to drive the robot themselves, experiencing the excitement of controlling a machine built for FIRST Robotics Competition. These are experiences that many students would otherwise have to wait years to encounter, often until they join a competitive robotics team in high school.

RadiCamp gave these students a rare look behind the scenes of an FRC team. They got to work in an actual robotics shop, handle real robot components, explore engineering problems, and learn from students who have spent countless hours building and competing. At an age when opportunities to work with full-scale competitive robots are limited, campers could experience firsthand what it means to turn an idea into a working machine.

The camp was also a learning experience for our own members. Some had never taught before, and explaining something like a drivetrain to a nine-year-old required us to break down complex concepts into simple, understandable ideas. Teaching pushed us to strengthen our own understanding while developing communication, patience, and leadership skills. Robotics is not just about knowing how to build something. It is also about being able to share that knowledge with others.

Perhaps the most rewarding part was watching the campers grow more confident throughout the week. On the first day, many stood back and observed, unsure of what to touch or how everything worked. By the end, they were reaching for tools, asking increasingly detailed questions, and suggesting their own improvements to the robot. What once seemed complicated and intimidating became something they could understand, experiment with, and help build themselves.

For us, that transformation captures exactly why outreach matters. Every Radicubs member had to start somewhere, and we benefited from opportunities to learn from others who introduced us to robotics. Through RadiCamp, we were able to pass that experience on to younger students, giving them an early opportunity to discover interests and develop skills they might not otherwise encounter until much later.

Thank you to every camper, parent, and teammate who made RadiCamp possible. We hope the experience sparked new interests, encouraged students to keep asking questions, and showed them that engineering is something they can be part of right now, not just years down the road. We look forward to welcoming everyone back next summer!