Maine Robotics

“Change is the essential process of all existence.” Mr. Spock, Star Trek (the original series), “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” , S3E15

We are experiencing great change today, for someone who changed the lives of many people in Maine (and changed the landscape of extracurricular education here, too.)

Today, Tom Bickford retires. His retirement is preceded by 26+ years of service to STEM education. These 26 years were full of firsts: in the literal sense of language, with years in the FIRST LEGO League, but also in the sense of groundbreaking. We were the first LEGO Robotics camps in Maine. We pioneered several first-of-their-kind educational camps, including Programming in Minecraft, Build Your Own Computer, and LEGO Builders. Tom also founded school-year competitions, Robot Track Meets (and the Robot Track Meet Association) and the Maine STEM Film Challenge. Since our last data collection in 2025, Tom’s efforts have reached over 26,000 Maine residents.

While this is an incredibly bittersweet occasion, this is also an occasion for much celebration. As the sun sets on a monumental career, the sun will continue to rise every day on a legacy that will last lifetimes.

Meet Our Camps: Ecology!

Campers ages 9-12 (no experience necessary) will discover and explore the natural world that exists within the five local ecosystems that make up Maine's ecology. Through field trips and activities, campers will learn how living and non-living things make up habitats including forests, freshwater, coastal, peat wetlands, and open fields. Connecting with nature in the communities they live in will help their understanding of ecosystem ecology. Perfect for plant and/or animal lovers who enjoy playing outside!

Ecology is a one-week Gorham campus exclusive camp for 2026, and will be offered from 6/29-7/3.

Don't forget to use code FILLUP50 for $50 off of registration!
For a link to registration, visit uis: https://usm.maine.edu/stem-outreach/stem-camps/

DON'T FORGET: Use coupon code FILLUP50 for $50 off at registration! Meet Our Camps: LEGO Robotics!
We have two LEGO Robotics camps to fulfill the needs of LEGO Roboteers at different experience levels!

LEGO Robotics (ages 9-11, no experience needed), for beginners & intermediates, introduces campers to the world of robotics through the accessible and beloved medium of LEGO. Through building and modifying their robots to complete missions that will help them become independent STEAM-thinkers.
Campers will explore concepts in physics, engineering, robotics, and coding. They will develop their teamwork skills, problem-solving skills, and academic resilience. To quote one of our LEGO Robotics leaders for over 15 years, our campers learn to “fail better” by learning the Engineering Design Process to adapt to changes as part of the troubleshooting and problem solving processes.

For LEGO Roboteers with experience, we are offering Advanced LEGO Robotics (for ages 11-15, with prior experience required). Campers will review the LEGO Robotics programming software before embarking on projects of their choice, under the mentorship of our experienced and passionate instructors and counselors. They will expand their skills in building robots and programming them to fulfill tasks of their own choosing (examples in the past include sorting machines, cranes with controllers, and even paper towel dispensers!)

Advanced LEGO Robotics has availability in Portland, from 7/13-7/17
LEGO Robotics has availability in:
- Gorham: 6/22-26; 6/29-7/3
- Portland: 6/22-26; 6/29-73; 7/13-17; 7/20-24; 7/27-31; and 8/3-8/7
- Lewiston: 7/20-24
- Augusta: 6/29-7/3; 7/6-10; and 7/13-17
- Camden: 7/27-31 and 8/3-7
- Orono: 7/13-17; 7/20-24; and 8/3-7
- Brunswick: 7/27-31
- Farmington: 8/3-7

Visit us for more information and a link to registration: https://usm.maine.edu/stem-outreach/stem-camps/

The countdown is ON!

We are just one day away from our first week of camps (June 22, 2026.)

Don't worry, there's still plenty of time to register for camps. Use the code FILLUP50 at check out to save $50.
Follow the link at the top of the page to register: https://usm.maine.edu/stem-outreach/stem-camps/