Combat Robotics

Afterschool BattleBots

Build a robot. Send it into the arena. See what survives. Afterschool BattleBots is our weekly combat robotics program, where students design, build, and battle their own bots — then head back to the workbench to make them better. It's engineering with a scoreboard.

Behind the battles is real learning: mechanical design, drive systems, armor and weight tradeoffs, and the engineering habit that matters most — iterating when something breaks. Students learn to win graciously, lose usefully, and treat every match as data for the next rebuild. No experience needed.

Program Afterschool BattleBots

Ages 7–14 years old

Category Combat Robotics

Schedule Mondays 4:30–6:30 PM

Fall Sessions Session 1: Sept 14 – Nov 2 (no class Sept 21 & Oct 12) · Session 2: Nov 9 – Dec 14

Location 113 Liberty Street, Newburgh, NY

Cost Scholarships available

Enroll on AfterSchoolHQ →

What Students Learn

Learning outcomes

Mechanical design: drive systems, armor, and weight tradeoffs
Building and wiring a working combat robot
Testing, breaking, and rebuilding — the engineering cycle
Strategy and driving skills in head-to-head matches
Safety practices for tools, batteries, and the arena
Sportsmanship — winning graciously and losing usefully

Gallery

In the studio

Student with her robot on the test floor

Instructor

Meet your instructor

👤

Dave Long

Afterschool BattleBots Instructor · Newburgh Creates

For Educators

Teacher resources

Curriculum guides, session plans, and program materials for Afterschool BattleBots instructors and partner educators are available in the teacher portal.

Access Teacher Portal →

Ready to battle?

Enroll in Afterschool BattleBots

Open to youth ages 7–14 in the Hudson Valley. Scholarships available.

Enroll on AfterSchoolHQ → Ask a Question →