This summer, XFYD hosted our Summer MARS (Milpitas Applied Robotics and Science) program at the Milpitas Teen Center, a five-day robotics camp designed to inspire and challenge young minds. With nearly 100 students from 1st through 7th grade in attendance, the week was filled with hands-on learning, creativity, and teamwork. This was a massive undertaking, raising over 20,000$ in revenue.
The MARS program introduced students to three major areas of STEM:
- Mechanical Design: Students learned how to design 3D models in Onshape and brought their ideas to life with 3D printing. Many campers took home their very first printed creations.
- Coding: Campers dove into the world of Python programming, using it to build their own interactive games. For many, this was their first experience turning lines of code into something playable.
- Electronics: With breadboard circuits and motors, students discovered how electricity powers movement. Each camper built and took home a motor-powered robot.
Beyond technical skills, the camp emphasized collaboration and problem-solving. Students worked in teams, shared ideas, and encouraged each other through challenges. The energy and enthusiasm were evident every day, whether it was debugging code, watching a robot come to life, or celebrating the first successful print from the 3D printer.
Our mission at XFYD is to make STEM accessible, engaging, and fun for young learners. The success of this year’s MARS program shows how much curiosity and creativity thrive when students are allowed to explore science and technology in a supportive environment. We are incredibly proud of all the participants for their hard work and are grateful to the Milpitas Teen Center for hosting this program. Most importantly, we hope the skills and confidence gained during MARS will inspire students to keep pursuing their interests in robotics and beyond.
