Community

Outreach

Camps, coaching, and demonstrations, sorted by season.

Third-Year Outreach

Campers and families gathered around the FLL table for the Friday showcase A camper driving a VEX IQ robot on the competition field Team members helping campers troubleshoot a VEX IQ robot Programming a VEX IQ robot with block code on a laptop
Week of Aug 17, 2026

Robotics/Engineering Summer Camp

We spent a week of the summer running a robotics and engineering camp for about 13 students in grades 4–8. Campers learned the basics of both VEX IQ and FIRST LEGO League: building drivetrains and mechanisms, writing block code, and running missions on a real FLL table.

Between robot sessions, campers took on hands-on engineering challenges, like an egg drop and designing and flying their own airplane gliders.

On Friday, the last day, campers showed off their robots to their families at a showcase, driving VEX robots on the field and running their FLL missions.

Second-Year Outreach

GNCE Mercury members coaching young students at an FLL table Sep 23, 2025 · 2025–26 FLL season

Coaching Weston's FLL Teams

We helped Weston's FIRST LEGO League program grow from 4 teams to 17 teams and 122 students, including 10 brand-new 4th and 5th grade teams at Field School. Money raised from our summer camp covered registration for all 10 of those teams, and the camp helped recruit and train new parent coaches.

On Sep 23 we ran a practice scrimmage so the teams could get a feel for a real qualifier. All season we mentored coaches and students on running weekly meetings, programming their robots, and managing their time. 9 of the 10 Field School teams competed at MA qualifiers, and 2 advanced to States.

“The FLL season for the elementary teams would not have been a success if not for the support and guidance from the high school FTC 26413 team.” Jessie Chan, lead coach, Field School FLL
“It was so well organized. The teams learned a lot today.” FLL coach, after the scrimmage
GNCE Mercury members showing our robot to visitors at the Clark University robotics showcase Team members explaining the robot to a visitor at Clark University Team member demonstrating the robot to students at Clark University
Feb 2026

Clark University Robotics Showcase

We mentored and took part in a robotics showcase at Clark University hosted by Galactic Einsteins, a team we've supported for a long time. Made up mostly of students from South Africa, Galactic Einsteins is helping make FIRST more inclusive and spread its values to a wider community.

Our Rookie-Season Outreach

Mercury members talking with visitors at the Cambridge Science Festival September 29, 2024

Cambridge Science Festival

We ran FTC robot demonstrations with our sister team, GNCE Diamond, and explained FIRST to visitors.

FLL teams practicing a robot game at Mercury's mock qualifier November 23, 2024

FLL Mock Qualifier

We hosted a practice qualifier for five Weston FIRST LEGO League teams. We ran robot matches and judged each team the way a real qualifier would.