Build & Burn (Junior LEGO)

At "Build & Burn," we believe in nurturing curiosity, promoting creativity, and inspiring a lifelong passion for technological innovation in our younger generation. Our mission is to provide an inclusive, safe space where students feel confident expressing themselves and tackling real-world challenges utilizing fundamental coding principles like loops, conditions, sequences, functions, and debugging techniques. By leveraging industry-standard tools and hardware alongside a project-based methodology, participants develop vital critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving competencies crucial for long-term academic growth.

Guided by experienced educators trained in pedagogy, youth development, and educational robotics, young engineers work together to imagine original designs, build autonomous robots from scratch, test hypotheses, troubleshoot obstacles, document processes, showcase prototypes, and present discoveries to peers or families. Along the way, kids learn how to articulate ideas, justify choices, accept constructive criticism, brainstorm improvements, iterate solutions, and reflect upon their journey. As mentors gradually release responsibility, students become increasingly independent thinkers capable of solving complex problems independently.

Beyond classroom walls, "Build & Burn" prepares participants for middle school CS pathways offering enrichment activities, summer camps, community outreach opportunities, hackathons, meetups, parent workshops, teacher professional developments, and more.