Building Robots and Teamwork: FLL Boot Camp at Morgan Park Academy

Launching Into the FLL Season

This summer, students at Morgan Park Academy kicked off their robotics journey with a week of hands-on learning during the FIRST LEGO League Boot Camp, hosted by CFI Robotics NFP. Over five days, participants explored the fundamentals of competition robotics, built their first modular robots, and practiced teamwork and problem-solving as they prepared for the upcoming season.

The camp began with an introduction to the FIRST LEGO League challenge and an overview of how competitions work. Students learned about the mission field, scoring system, and strategies teams use to maximize points during matches. They also began constructing the foundation of their robots, building strong and stable chassis designed for precision and durability on the field.

Strengthening Builds and

Expanding Skills

On Day 2, students focused on improving their robot designs while also learning essential building techniques. They organized their LEGO Spike Prime kits, sorted competition parts, and worked collaboratively to build a shared supply cart that will support future robotics work at MPA.

The engineering focus of the day was motorized and passive attachments. Students created custom attachments that could lift, push, or activate mission elements with precision. They explored dog gear systems, quick-swap attachment designs, and energy-efficient passive. Several students successfully collected mission pieces like krill, coral, and phytoplankton samples using just a single passive design.

After lunch, students also learned mindfulness and focus strategies through a guided meditation session, helping them approach robotics challenges with calm and clarity. The day concluded with a celebration of the official launch of the 2025–2026 FLL season, including the premiere of the season’s theme and mission videos.

From Concept to Competition Strategy

Days 3 and 4 were all about applying new skills to real challenges. Students collaborated to build a brand-new modular base robot from the ground up, learning advanced techniques like alternating beam construction and precision alignment. They refined their builds for strength and consistency, then shifted focus to planning out mission runs and strategies.

The team mapped out every mission on the field, noted point values and activation methods, and created a mission chart to organize their runs. They decided on launch positions, divided tasks, and assigned team members to lead specific missions. Students then coded custom functions to use gyroscope sensors for driving straight and making accurate turns.

Each student contributed unique designs and mission strategies:

• Wynston led the first major run, collecting the squid and gathering krill.

• Ian built an attachment to raise the ship’s mast and retrieve treasure from under the kraken.

• Mikayla worked on a design to collect the scuba diver and complete related missions.

• Jackson created an attachment to deliver the vampire squid into the cold seep.

The team also chose their official camp name, The MPA Brick Separators, and Mikayla designed several versions of their new team logo. Between robotics work, students enjoyed creative breaks, building colorful dioramas with air-dry foam and polymer clay.

Final Runs and Family Celebration

On the final day, students put everything they had learned into action. They coded, refined, and tested their robots before presenting them to parents and guests in a celebratory showcase. The event highlighted not only their technical skills but also their creativity, collaboration, and perseverance throughout the week.

The MPA FLL Boot Camp gave students a strong foundation in robotics design, coding, and competition strategy. Most importantly, it built confidence and excitement for the season ahead. With a deeper understanding of how robots work and how teams succeed, these young innovators are ready to take on the 2025–2026 FIRST LEGO League challenge.