I am a new parent, discovering Detroit and creating memories with my children. Today we discovered a gem in the rail district in Birmingham – The Robot Garage. At first thought, The Robot Garage is a Lego hangout, but it is so much more.
Education is the cornerstone of The Robot Garage’s mission. They focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). STEM is the latest buzz-word in education and is being taught through hands-on, engaging experiences to the students and patrons visiting The Robot Garage daily. With nearly half of all U.S. economic growth currently being attributed to technological innovation, the programs offered here are becoming immensely valuable. Oh yeah…and its really, really FUN!
Shop Impressions & Drop-in
The Robot Garage is located in a modern industrial building in Birmingham’s Rail District. You are immediately greeted by a clean and well-stocked retail space, everything from Lego to home robotic kits line the shelves. The Drop-in area is located just behind the store and is where patrons can stop in to get their creative juices flowing. Lego, Duplo, LaQ, Zometool and more are spread out in stations with a ton of bricks and supplies for everyone to build a project. Asher’s favorite station was a table with student-built robotic challenges. Rhys spent his time tossing around Duplo’s, and he had a ball!
Camps & Classes
I was extremely immersed in The Robot Garage’s curriculum during our visit. Throughout the year, and especially in the summer, The Robot Garage hosts students from all grades for field trips, team exercises and camps. The programs emphasize technology, engineering and robotics by encouraging tinkering, inventing and problem solving. The students we observed were highly engaged and having an absolute blast. The fighting robots they were currently developing are too impressive for words, and the students were nice enough to give Asher a demonstration of their assignment. Right outside the classrooms is a 10’x10′ Lego city, rebuilt with a new theme every week by campers! I don’t know how they do it.
Additional Info
If you’re looking to deviate from the normal summer activities, you can’t beat The Robot Garage. It’s fun and educational. If you’re interested in joining a camp this summer, utilize this special promo code to save $50: MEDIAMOMS. Stop in and check it out! You can find our review on the U.S. Family Guide.
[one_third]Summer Hours
Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Friday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Closed Sundays[/one_third][one_third]
View Larger Map[/one_third]
[one_third_last]The Robot Garage
637 S. Eton Road
Birmingham, MI 48009
(248) 723-9100[/one_third_last]
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