Mario Day - Fairfax County Community Centers

In the world of STEM outreach, few things are more rewarding than seeing kids light up as they interact with tech for the first time. That’s exactly what happened this Tuesday at the Mario Day Festival, where our team had the opportunity to set up a booth and introduce young minds to the exciting worlds of robotics and 3D printing.

In the days leading up to the event, things were hectic—lots of moving parts, last-minute adjustments, and the usual scramble to make sure everything from the 3D printers to the robots was ready to go. It was a bit of a whirlwind, but all that prep set the stage for something special.

At the event itself, things started off a little slow—but that didn’t last long. Once we rolled out a few fun and games, the energy shifted completely. We kicked things off with a mini basketball challenge—sink a shot, win a t-shirt—which quickly drew a crowd. From there, the excitement really took off with robot races that had kids and parents cheering each other on.

What began as a quiet booth quickly transformed into a buzzing hub of activity. The mix of hands-on learning, interactive tech, and good old-fashioned fun struck a chord with everyone who stopped by. By the end of the day, we had a crowd of curious young minds asking questions, trying out the tech, and imagining what they might build next.

Huge thanks to the Fairfax County Community Centers for inviting us and organizing such a fun and inspiring event. We’re already looking forward to being back this summer for more workshops, more energy, and even more opportunities to spark curiosity and creativity.