summer program REGISTRATION
We understand that some families need low-cost learning opportunities. Feel free to contact MAGIC for more information on monthly payment options. We also have a limited amount of scholarship opportunities for qualifying need-based students.
Ages 6-9
elementary lego spike essentials camp
In this exciting hands-on camp, elementary students will explore the world of coding and engineering using LEGO® SPIKE™ Essentials. Campers will build motorized models, program them to move and respond to their environment, and tackle fun real-world challenges while developing critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork skills.
Each session will have a different theme. No prior experience is required, but curiosity and a love of LEGO is a must!
Dates:
Session 1: M-F, June 22-26, 1PM-3PM (Great Adventures)
Session 2: M-F, August 3-7, 1PM-3PM (Quirky Creations)
Session 3: M-F, August 17-21, 1PM-3PM (Happy Traveler)
Ages: 6-9
Cost: $185/session
Class limit: 8 students each session
Ages 9-12
intro to problem solving with robotics
This camp is a modified version of our spring elementary class, where students are introduced to the problem-solving process using autonomous programming with LEGO EV3 robots. We will use a former First LEGO League (FLL) Challenge mat and models. Using basic building and programming skills, students will learn how to control their robots, developing hands-on problem-solving skills. It’s a great introduction to robotics and the engineering design process!
More details coming soon!
Dates:
Session 1: M-F, August 10-14, 1:00-4:00 PM
Ages: 9-12
Cost: $225
Class limit: 6 students
maker camp: flexi-animals and accessories
Based on our popular workshop, students will use easy-to-learn design software to create 3-4 custom flexi-animals and accessories.
Flexi-animals are articulated creatures made up of interlocking segments that move and flex once printed. You’ll choose your animal, customize your design, and get a firsthand look at how 3D printing works from start to finish.
We will also introduce students to Tinkercad so that they can create their own accessories.
More details coming soon!
Dates:
Session 1: M-F, August 24-28, 1PM-2:30 PM
Session 2: M-F, August 24-28, 3:00 PM-4:30 PM
Ages: 9-12
Cost: $225
Class limit: 6 students/session
Ages 9-14
Sumobot workshop
Our popular Sumobot workshop is back! In this workshop, students modify a basic Lego EV3 robot for an epic “sumo” style showdown! Participants will use basic building and programming skills to learn how to control their robots, developing hands-on problem-solving skills. It’s a great introduction to robotics and the engineering design process!
Dates:
Session 1: M, June 29, 1:00-4:00 PM
Session 2: T, June 30, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Ages: 9-14
Cost: $60/session
Class limit: 10 students each session
Advanced Ev3 workshop
If you took our first sumobot workshop (either this year or last year) and are looking for a new challenge, this is the workshop for you! The challenge will be more difficult, but just as fun. Can you make your EV3 robot rise to the top?
More details coming soon!
Date:
Session 1: T, July 7, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Ages: 9-14
Cost: $60
Class limit: 10 students
sumobot camp
If you are new to sumobots, or have taken a workshop and would like to delve a little deeper and create a more advanced sumobot, consider our sumobot camp! During camp, we will build sumobots from scratch, learn how to program with additional sensors, and spend more time iterating on designs to create a super sumobot! Similar to the workshop, we will have a sumobot showdown at the end of camp.
More details coming soon!
Date:
Session 1: M-F, August 3-7, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Ages: 9-14
Cost: $200
Class limit: 10 students
Ages 10-15
VEX IQ Workshop: Introduction to Robotics & Engineering
Have you ever wondered how robots are designed, built, and programmed? In this fun, hands-on workshop, students will use the VEX IQ robotics system to experience the engineering design process firsthand through building, programming, and testing a robot walker.
No prior experience is needed. Whether you’re brand new to robotics or have enjoyed building with VEX in one of our previous classes, you’ll leave with new ideas and a better understanding of what engineering is all about.
Dates:
Session 1: M, June 29, 9AM-12PM
Session 2: T, June 30, 1PM-4PM
Session 3: T, July 7, 1PM-4PM
Ages: 10-15
Cost: $60/session
Class limit: 8 students each session
Ages 12-18
cyberbrick workshop: make and take
In these robotics-meets-makerspace workshops, students will use Bambu CyberBrick components in combination with 3D printed parts to build a take-home robotic creation.
No prior experience is needed, but we will be handling small parts and electronics.
More details coming soon!
Dates:
Session 1: M-T, June 15-16, 9AM-12PM (Soccer Bot)
Session 2: W-Th, July 8-9, 1PM-4PM (Cuby)
Session 3: W-Th, July 15-16, 9AM-12PM (CyberBrick Truck)
Ages: 12-18
Cost: $125/session
Class limit: 8 students each session
workshop: introduction to 3d printing
Would you like to learn more about 3D printing but are not sure where to start? In this workshop, we will introduce you to the 3D printers available in our Makerspace, different types of filaments and what they are used for, 3D printing software, and how to find 3D print files on websites.
We will also get you started on how to set up a 3D print of your choice (up to $10 in filament costs), and how to send that file to us so that we can print it for you.
Please note that because 3D prints take time to complete, your project will not be ready the same day. You will be contacted via email when your print is ready for pickup at the ARIC facility.
More details coming soon!
Dates:
Session 1: W, June 17, 1PM-4PM
Session 2: W, July 15, 1PM-4PM
Ages: 12-18
Cost: $40/session
Class limit: 8 students each session
Workshop: Introduction to tinkercad
Have you ever wanted to design something and see it come to life as a 3D print? In this hands-on workshop, students will learn to use Tinkercad, a free, browser-based 3D design tool that makes it easy for first-time designers to jump right in. Using a simple drag-and-drop interface, students will go from idea to printable 3D model in just one session.
No prior experience with 3D design or printing is required. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to create. By the end of the workshop, each student will have designed their own 3D model and submitted it for printing.
Please note that because 3D prints take time to complete, your project will not be ready the same day. You will be contacted via email when your print is ready for pickup at the ARIC facility.
More details coming soon!
Dates:
Session 1: Th, June 18, 1PM-4PM
Session 2: Th, July 18, 1PM-4PM
Ages: 12-18
Cost: $55/session
Class limit: 8 students each session
intro to robotic design: build and program a drivetrain
In this 5-day camp, students will build a drivetrain (using metal structural elements, motors, and wheels), complete the wiring to a control hub, and learn how to program their drivetrain in Java with Android Studio.
More details coming soon!
Dates:
Session 1: M-F, August 10-14, 9AM-12PM
Ages: 12-18
Cost: $275
Class limit: 8 students
Ages 13-18
VXSim camp
Do you have some previous experience in robotics and/or programming, and are looking to learn more? In this camp, students will program autonomous robots using beginner-friendly Python and test their ideas in VxSim, a powerful simulation tool. They will explore networking basics, send commands, troubleshoot like real engineers, and build robot behaviors from the ground up. This class is a collaboration between MAGIC and Dynamic Dimension Technologies, a local robotics company.
Instructor: Carter Cole
Dates:
Session 1: M-F, June 22-26, 9AM-12PM
Session 2: M-F, August 17-21, 9AM-12PM
Ages: 13-18
Cost: $275/session
Class limit: 10 students each session
introduction to soldering
Have you ever wondered how electronics are made? In this two-day hands-on camp, students will learn the fundamentals of soldering and basic electronics while building a real working project to take home. No prior experience is required, just curiosity and a willingness to learn!
Students will choose from a selection of beginner-friendly electronics kits based on their interests and comfort level, so everyone works on something that excites them. By the end of camp, each student will have a small, functional project they built entirely themselves.
Dates:
Session 1: M-T, June 15-16, 1:00-4:00 PM
Session 2: W-Th, July 8-9, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Ages: 13-18
Cost: $75/session
Class limit: 6 students each session
bot brawl camp!
This camp deserves the exclamation mark after its name! We are really excited to finally launch an idea which has been in the works for months. In this camp, students will use Bambu CyberBrick components to create their own take-home antweight combat robot and controller.
Students will choose from (at least) four different robots after some test drives and careful analysis to build their own antweight robot. We are currently designing an arena so that the robots will have the opportunity to battle! Our hope is to send everyone home with their own robot at the end of camp as long as it survives!
More details coming soon!
Dates:
Session 1: M-F, August 24-28 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Ages: 13-18
Cost: $350
Class limit: 8 students
Refund Policy
- Full refund up to 30 days prior to the start of class.
- 50% refund up to 2 weeks prior to the start of class.
- No refund if canceled less than 2 weeks prior to start of class.
- Full refund or free registration (up to one year for a comparable session) will be provided if ARIC cancels a session for any reason, including low enrollment.
summer camp
VxSIM CAMP
In this hands-on STEM camp, you’ll learn how to program a robot to drive autonomously using beginner-friendly Python. Then you’ll level up by blending the real and virtual worlds with VxSim, an innovative simulation tool that lets you test ideas fast and see what your code is really doing. Along the way, you’ll also learn the basics of networking: how your computer communicates with a robot. We will send commands, troubleshoot, and iterate like real robotics engineers. By the end, you won’t just understand how robots work in everyday life… you’ll know how to build behaviors and bring your own robot to life.
Instructor: Carter Cole
Carter Cole is a freshman Computer Engineering and Secondary Education student at UMBC. He grew up in Carroll County and graduated from Liberty High School where he taught cybersecurity and game development to his club. He’s always enjoyed hands-on building, especially projects that combine 3D printing, microcontrollers, and code to create real, functional art. In his free time Carter performs with a world championship drum corps, dances in modern works, and plays jazz trombone for many groups.
Carter is passionate about helping others learn through making, and he brings a patient, energetic, and creative approach to problem-solving. After graduating from UMBC, he plans to work in industry to deepen his technical skills, then return to his long-term goal: teaching and mentoring the next generation.
Who Should Attend?
VXSim Camp is open to students ages 13-18 who are interested in learning more about programming, networking, and virtual environments.
Camp Dates & Sessions:
Session 1: June 22-26, 9AM-12PM
Cost is $275.
summer camp
elementary lego spike essentials CAMP
Is your child ready to turn their love of LEGO into real-world STEM skills? In our LEGO SPIKE Essentials Camp, elementary students will dive into the exciting world of robotics, coding, and engineering.
Using the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essentials platform, campers will construct motorized models equipped with sensors and motors. Through guided challenges and creative free-build time, they’ll learn to program their creations using a colorful, icon-based coding environment designed specifically for young learners. Their LEGO builds will come to life based on their code to spin, move, light up, and respond to the world around them!
Each day features new themed challenges that connect STEM concepts to real-world problems. Campers might create a vehicle, design an animal that moves and reacts, or build a solution to help their community. Along the way, they’ll sharpen skills in computational thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and storytelling.
No prior coding or robotics experience is needed. We will guide students at every level, encouraging creativity and exploration in a supportive and fun environment. Whether your child is a first-time builder or a seasoned LEGO fan, they’ll find new ways to learn, grow, and be inspired.
Who Should Attend?
Elementary Lego Spike Essentials Camp is open to students ages 6-9 who are interested in learning more about programming and building. Each session has a different theme.
Camp Dates & Sessions:
Session 1: M-F, June 22-26, 1PM-3PM (Great Adventures)
Session 2: M-F, August 3-7, 1PM-3PM (Quirky Creations)
Session 3: M-F, August 17-21, 1PM-3PM (Happy Traveler)
Cost is $185.
Workshop
vex iq workshop: introduction to robotics and engineering
In this one-day workshop, students will dive into the world of robotics using the VEX IQ system. In addition to building a robot, students will experience the full engineering design process: design, build, test, and improve.
Participants will construct a robot walker from the ground up using VEX IQ components, then program it to move. Once their robot is up and running, campers will observe how it performs, ask questions about what could work better, and then go back to the drawing board to refine both their build and their code. This iterative process of testing and improving helps students understand how engineers tackle real-world problems.
New to robotics? No problem. Returning from a previous session? You’ll still find plenty to explore and build on. Working through the design process helps kids discover new ways to improve their robot and deepen their understanding of engineering. They will leave with new ideas, skills, and a greater appreciation for what engineering is all about.
No prior robotics or coding experience is needed. Our instructors will guide campers at every step, encouraging creativity, curiosity, and collaborative problem-solving in a supportive and energetic environment.
Who Should Attend? This camp is open to students ages 10 and up. No experience required, just bring your curiosity and a willingness to learn!
Camp Dates and Sessions:
Session 1: M, June 29, 9AM-12PM
Session 2: T, June 30, 1PM-4PM
Session 3: T, July 7, 1PM-4PM
Cost is $60.
Class size is limited to 8 students per session.
summer camp
Introduction to soldering
Have you ever wondered how the electronics around you actually work? In this two-day hands-on camp, students will get a real introduction to soldering and basic electronics, learning the skills and safety practices that engineers and hobbyists use every day. Working at their own pace in a small, supportive environment, students will gain confidence with tools and techniques that open the door to a whole new world of making and building.
One of the things that makes this camp unique is that every student gets to choose their own project. We offer a selection of beginner-friendly electronics kits at different interest and ability levels, so whether your student is drawn to lights, sound, or interactive electronics, there is something here for them. By the end of the second day, each student will have a completed project they assembled themselves to bring home and be proud of.
No prior experience with electronics or soldering is required. All materials and equipment are provided.
Class size is limited to 6 students to ensure personalized attention and a safe, focused workspace.
What Students Will Learn
- Soldering safety and proper technique
- How to use soldering tools and equipment
- Basic electronics concepts including circuits, components, and polarity
- How to read a simple schematic
- How to assemble, test, and troubleshoot a circuit
Camp Sessions
Session 1: June 15-16, 1:00-4:00 PM
Session 2: July 8-9, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Ages: 13+
Cost: $75
Class limit: 6 students per session
Workshop
sumobot workshop
What are Sumobots?
Get ready for an exciting adventure in robotics! Students will modify a basic Lego EV3 robot for an epic “sumo” style showdown! Over the course of the camp, participants will use basic building and programming skills to learn how to control their robots, all while developing hands-on problem-solving skills.
Camp Highlights:
- Each student will design and build a SumoBot, learning the fundamentals of robotics and engineering.
- Program their robot to navigate, push, and compete using motors and sensors.
- Troubleshoot, test, and refine their designs.
- At the end of the camp, each child will put their creation to the ultimate test in an exciting and fast-paced robot battle. They will participate in a friendly but fierce competition where their SumoBots will face off to see who can push the other out of the ring! But it’s not just about winning — it’s about learning the process of design, overcoming challenges, and building resilience.
- This camp is a fantastic way for kids to gain valuable skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and creative thinking that will serve them in any future endeavors.
Who Should Attend?
Sumbot Camp is open to students ages 9-14 who are interested in learning how to control robots using basic programming to manage motors and sensors.
Camp Dates & Sessions:
Dates:
Session 1: M, June 29, 1:00-4:00 PM
Session 2: T, June 30, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Ages: 9-14
Cost: $60/session
Class limit: 10 students each session