Mini Makers
The perfect place for young builders to start their robotics journey. Mini Makers explore the basics of how things move, light up, and respond to code through playful LEGO® creations. Each project feels like a new adventure — full of color, motion, and laughter. This age group thrives on imagination, turning simple builds into stories that spark curiosity and a lifelong love for discovery.
Exploration, play, and building confidence
Mini Makers is where students in Grades 1–3 begin their robotics journey through playful, age-appropriate engineering experiences.
Ages
Best for children aged 6-9 years
Dates
Mondays through Fridays
June 1 — August 24
Time
8:30am - 5:30pm EDT
Location
2020 Chapel Hill Rd #33, Durham, NC 27707
This group focuses on:
Building early robotics structures using LEGO-based systems
Campers jump right into hands-on building as they create fun, sturdy robotic structures with LEGO-based systems. It’s the perfect, playful introduction to engineering—designed to boost confidence as kids see their ideas come to life.
Learning the basics of graphical, drag-and-drop coding
Using kid-friendly, drag-and-drop coding tools, campers learn how to give their robots commands and create simple programs. They build the foundational skills of logic, sequencing, and cause-and-effect—all without feeling overwhelmed.
Exploring simple machines and real engineering concepts
Children discover how gears, levers, pulleys, and other simple machines work through guided challenges and exciting mini-projects. These early engineering concepts help them understand how the world works in a way that feels like pure fun.
Strengthening creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork
Every activity encourages kids to imagine boldly, test ideas, overcome challenges, and collaborate with new friends. These skills grow naturally in our supportive, joyful environment—and they’re the kind of skills that last long after summer ends.
Every session is designed to spark curiosity and support foundational STEM skills in a joyful, accessible way.
FAQs
You’ve got questions,
we’ve got answers
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Our days at Bull City Robotics are built around community, hands-on learning, and collaboration. While each age group explores projects at their own level, our daily rhythm helps every camper feel connected and engaged.
On Mondays, we kick off the week with:
A welcome to our camp community
Review of community guidelines
Tool-use and safety introductions
An overview of the daily schedule, weekly flow, and project milestones
Daily Rhythm
Morning Community Kickoff
We start each morning together. Every cohort shares something they learned or discovered, then we break into age groups to dive into project work and learning time.
Mid-Morning Snack & Community Time
Each camp cohort pauses for a snack break and some relaxed community connection before returning to their projects.
Brain Breaks (Twice a Day)
We build in two creative “brain breaks”—one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Campers may explore their artistic side, play an outdoor game, or take part in a quick reset activity.
Lunch + Movement Time
After lunch, campers head outside to move their bodies, recharge, and reset before the afternoon session.
Afternoon Project Time
Campers return to their age groups for more hands-on building, coding, problem-solving, and collaboration.
End-of-Day Community Share-Out
We wrap up the day as a full camp community. Each cohort shares highlights from their day before we head home.
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To help your student have the best experience at Bull City Robotics, please send them with:
Snacks
We all know “hangry” isn’t great for learning. We build in a morning and afternoon snack break, so please pack a couple of snacks your student enjoys.
Lunch
We have refrigerators and microwaves available, but we ask that lunches be ready for students to serve themselves. Please include any utensils they’ll need.
Refillable Water Bottle
Hydration is key—especially during hands-on build time. A labeled, refillable bottle works best.
Closed-Toed and Closed-Heeled Shoes (FTC Campers Only)
For safety in the build space, FTC students must wear shoes that fully cover both toes and heels. No sandals, Crocs, or slides.
A Great Mindset
And most importantly, bring a mindset ready for fun, learning, and collaborating with others. Camp is better when we build together!
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When you register by submitting your deposit, you’ll receive an enrollment package that includes all required medical forms. Our goal is to ensure your student has a great experience at camp, so we collect any information that helps us support them—such as how they learn best, any allergies, and any medications or considerations our staff should be aware of. Simply complete the forms in the enrollment package and return them using the submission instructions provided.
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Our staff is certified in CPR and first aid, and we maintain a low camper-to-coach ratio for close supervision. We also follow safety protocols for heat, hydration, and equipment use. Allergies and medical needs are documented and closely monitored.
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Yes! While we encourage multi-week participation for the best experience, we also offer a 20% discount when four or more weeks are booked for one child.
Additional Camps
More to explore
Looking for a different age group? We offer programs all summer long for age groups ranging from toddlers to young adults.
Best for children aged 10–12 years
Best for children aged 12–15 years
Best for children aged 12–15 years