Registration is currently OPEN for our 2025 Fall Programs
Are you a high school student eager to dive into the exciting world of robotics, programming, and real-world engineering? The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) program at the Innovation Station is your opportunity to shine! Guided by experienced adult mentors, you'll apply engineering principles to design, build, and program a sophisticated robot powered by Android technology using Java-based coding. Experience the thrill of head-to-head competition in an alliance format against local teams, all while developing invaluable skills for your future.
When: Sundays 4-6 PM and Tuesdays 6-8 PM. Generally 4-6 hours per week, from September to March.
Who: Teams are comprised of up to 15 students in grades 7-12, supported by 2 adult coaches. Mentors are strongly encouraged to provide diverse expertise.
Cost: Free.
Are you ready to tackle real-world problems and bring your ideas to life with LEGO robots? The FIRST LEGO League Challenge program invites students in 4th-8th grade to embark on an exciting journey of discovery and innovation. Guided by adult coaches and professional mentors, teams will dive deep into a themed challenge, conducting research, developing creative solutions, and presenting their findings to a panel of judges.
When: Determined by the coaches after teams are formed, offering flexibility. Generally 2 hours per week, from mid-August to January.
Who: Teams are comprised of 3-6 members, ages 9-14, and require 2 adult coaches.
Cost: $75 per student.
Does your child have a natural curiosity, a love for building, or a budding interest in how things work? The FIRST LEGO League Explore program is the perfect, engaging introduction for students in 2nd through 4th grade to the exciting world of STEM. It's designed to build foundational skills in a fun, hands-on environment, setting them up for future success.
When: Flexible meeting times are determined by the coaches after teams are formed, to best suit everyone's schedules. Designed to be manageable for young families, generally requiring only 1 hour per week from late September until early February.
Who: Teams are small and supportive, typically made up of 3-4 students, ages 6-10 (grades 2-4), guided by 2 adult coaches.
Cost: $50 per student.
Is your child ready to explore, build, and imagine? The FIRST LEGO League Discover program is the perfect first step for students in Kindergarten through 1st grade (ages 4-6) to dive into the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Using familiar LEGO DUPLO bricks, we create a playful and engaging environment where learning feels like pure fun!
When: Classes will typically meet from 4-5 PM on Thursdays or Fridays, with specific times determined by coaches after teams are formed. A manageable commitment of 1 hour per week, from the end of September to mid-November.
Who: Teams are small and supportive, made up of 4-6 children, ensuring individual attention. Specifically designed for children ages 4-6 (Kindergarten-1st grade).
Cost: $25 per student
Registration is currently CLOSED for our 2025 Spring Programs
The H2 Grand Prix program at the Innovation Station provides students the opportunity to design, build and race hydrogen fueled model vehicles. This program, in conjuction with PLUG Power helps develop future leaders with the creativity, ingenuity and critical thinking skills needed to tackle the energy challenges facing our world.
Led by Jordan Grande, Senior Systems Engineering Technician at Plug, students will:
· Work with pre-designed kits and basic tools to assemble small hydrogen-powered race cars.
· Learn how hydrogen fuel cells work and why clean energy matters.
· Test their cars in friendly races, applying problem-solving skills to optimize speed & efficiency.
When: Wednesdays, from April 23rd – May 28th, 5:30pm to 6:30 pm.
Who: Students ages 7-10
Cost: $50 per Student
Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization which aims to support and increase the number of women in computer science. Students learn the concepts of loops, variables, conditionals and functions that form the basis of all programming languages. This class, taught by RCS teacher Melinda White, introduces the fundamentals of coding through interactive projects. Participants will explore coding concepts using block-based programming and beginner-friendly languages while fostering problem-solving skills and creativity. Through real-world applications and inspiring female role models, this class encourages young girls to build confidence in technology and innovation.
When: Tuesdays, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5-6:30pm
Who: Girls, grades 3-5
Cost: FREE
CAD for FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a hands-on course designed to teach students the fundamentals of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) for FTC robotics. Taught by Jeff Zemsky, VP of Product Management at PTC, participants will learn how to design, model, and simulate robot components using OnShape, preparing them for robot prototyping, fabrication, and competition-ready builds.
When: Tuesdays, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 7-8pm
Who: Students grades 6-12
Cost: $50 per Student
Intro to Applied Programming with Python will teach basic computer programming concepts and how to apply them in Python. Dylan Keyer, Senior Software Engineering Manager at Twilio, will teach this class.
Students will learn:
High-level computer science concepts (variables, data types, conditional statements, loops)
Basic application of writing code in Python 3
Introductory development practices (code editor usage, executing programs, problem solving to meet requirements)
When: Mondays, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 5/5, 5/19, 6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 5:30-6:30pm
Who: Students grade 6-12
Cost: $90 per Student
Intro to FIRST LEGO League Challenge Class
Ready to take the next step in your FIRST LEGO League journey? This class is designed for individuals transitioning from FLL Explore to FLL Challenge or for those who haven't participated on a FLL team before. Learn key strategies for coding with SPIKE Prime, building effective LEGO attachments, and tackling FLL Challenge missions with confidence. Through hands-on activities and expert tips, participants will develop problem-solving skills, explore advanced building techniques, and gain insights into competition success. Perfect for young engineers looking to boost their robotics skills and prepare for FLL Challenge!
When: Fridays, March 14th, April 4th, April 25th, May 9th, May 16th, May 30th, 5:30-6:30pm
Who: Students ages 8-14
Cost: $50 per Student
Advanced FLL Challenge Competition Ready
Take your FLL Challenge skills to the next level! This class is designed for current FLL Challenge students looking to improve their coding, mission strategy, and LEGO attachment designs. Learn how to optimize your robot’s performance with advanced coding techniques, including MyBlocks for modular programming. Develop strategic approaches to tackling missions efficiently and explore innovative attachment designs to enhance robot consistency and reliability. Through hands-on exercises and expert guidance, participants will gain the competitive edge needed for success in FLL Challenge competitions! *Student must have participated in FLL Challenge previously and be coach-recommended.
When: Fridays, March 14th, April 4th, April 25th, May 9th,, May 16th, May 30th. 7-8pm
Who: Students ages 9-14
Cost: $50 per Student
In KIBO Code & Create, our youngest students will dive into the world of coding and robotics with the KIBO robot by Kinderlab, a hands-on, screen-free tool designed to make learning fun and interactive. Using simple wooden blocks and their creativity, students will work collaboratively to build, program, and bring their KIBO robot to life while being introduced to basic coding concepts.
When: Thursday afternoons, from March 6th to April 10th, 4 pm to 5 pm.
Who: Grades Pre-K to Grade 1
Cost: $50 per Student
Join us at the Ravena Innovation Station for Spark Lab, an electrifying 6-week hands-on STEM course designed for curious students in grades 3 through 5! Dive into the exciting world of electrical circuits and discover how the technology around us works.
Led by Nathan Brotz, Vice President of Comalli Electric, and Andrew Wilsey, Principal Engineer at Quantum Engineering, students will explore essential concepts like:
Lighting, motors, and diodes.
Voltage, wattage, and amperage.
Resistors, switches, capacitors, and more.
Each session combines engaging lessons with interactive projects, empowering students to learn by doing. Whether building a simple circuit or experimenting with advanced components, participants will gain foundational knowledge and a spark of inspiration to fuel their STEM journey.
When: Wednesday Evening, from March 5th to April 9th, 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
Who: Grades 3-5
Cost: $50 per Student