In September 2024, Team 1403 led an outreach event at Sri Venkateswara Temple (Balaji Mandir) and Community Center in Bridgewater, NJ that centered around FIRST robotics-based classes. The team guided 2nd to 8th graders through hands-on engineering and programming challenges using Lego WeDos and SPIKE robots. Additionally, 5th to 8th graders created an innovation project centered around this year’s FLL theme of ocean exploration.
In total, team members taught 40 kids primarily from the Bridgewater area. The program consisted of 2-hour classes for six weeks. Over this time period, 10 students contributed a total of 128 volunteer hours. Participants were divided into two groups: one for grades 2-4, and the second for grades 5-8.
Student Testimonials:
Ranvir Singh: “All my mentees seemed to have lots of fun during the challenges. My favorite innovation project was one regarding a trash-cleaning robot; although their idea was seemingly basic, they added their own twists, such as a filtration system and the ability to sort through different types of waste. I was surprised by their ability to expand on a basic idea as the classes went on.”
Prabhav Pillarisetti: “The kids seemed to really enjoy the challenges […] some of the builds I remember were a functional streetlight, and a giant fan.”
Ultimately, this program was a resounding success, sparking enthusiasm and a deeper understanding of robotics among participants. Team 1403 hopes to hold similar events in the future. Despite being rooted in basic STEM concepts, programs like these can foster a lifelong interest in technology and innovation.