How Do We Model Courage in the Middle of Life’s Storms?

When storms hit, kids don’t just hear our words—they watch how we live. After Hurricane Michael, a robotics student I knew spent months helping his dad chainsaw trees. School was cancelled, but his father, also his coach, kept robotics practices going. In the middle of rubble, that consistency gave his son hope.

As parents and mentors, we ache when the children we love suffer. Yet those moments test our example. Do they see fear, anger, or despair—or courage, hope, and perseverance?

That heartbeat inspired DJ and the Robot. In this adventure, DJ teams up with an AI robot, a 3D printer, and even a hexcopter to bring light after disaster. It’s a reminder to kids that courage grows in the middle of life’s storms—and to us, that the next generation learns resilience from the way we model it.

🔥 GoodReads eBook Giveaway: September 27 – October 27 🐱

Summer registration is now open!

Students and coaches, whether you are on a FIRST® LEGO® League team preparing for next season or just want to practice building, programming and designing robots,  join us for our online camp! Only $60 gives you access to the online Schoology course and many Engineering Design tool downloads! Team discounts will be available. Early registration $10 off before June 1st!

Download the PDF for more information: Virtual Robotics Academy – Flier. Click to register before spaces are filled: Register at Eventbrite.com

Check back…

…for details on the 2019-2020 FIRST® LEGO® League. Virtual Kickoff in August!

FIRST LEGO League Regional Championship

Our region was very fortunate to have the University of West Florida (UWF) step forward when Hurricane Michael damaged the venue for the Florida – Northwest FIRST LEGO League Regional Championship originally scheduled at Gulf Coast State College.

UWF’s Field House venue was amazing and the students performed out of this world (or you could say “Into Orbit“)! Congratulations to the Okaloosa STEMM Academy (OSA) for winning 2 of the 7 slots for our region to attend the State Championship. The STEMM Stingers and the STEMM SWARM teams will both be headed to Boca Raton in April. The Stingers, OSA’s veteran team, ranked 2nd in the region and will also be competing at the Razorback Invitational in Arkansas!

A big thank you to David Johnson with the Okaloosa School District for emceeing the tournament. Doolittle Institute brought in a great group of volunteers once again to set-up, judge and referee the tournament.