The program offers a unique opportunity for high school students to reside on the UC Irvine campus while gaining hands-on experience in designing, building, and coding autonomous robots with 3D printed components, coupled with leadership and networking skill development.
The MESA Leadership Engineering & Fabrication (LEAF) Summer Program is a one-week residential camp for high school students (10th and 11th grade) that provides hands-on experience in robotics, computer-aided design (CAD), coding, and programming. Participants work in teams to design, build, and code autonomous VEX IQ robots, incorporating 3D printed elements. Students learn to use platforms like OnShape for CAD and Raspberry Pi for programming, gaining practical skills in engineering and technology. The program also includes workshops on resume building and professional networking, and tours of UCI's FABWorks and RapidTech facilities to expose students to advanced fabrication processes like 3D printing and laser cutting. The camp culminates in a robot competition where students race their creations through an obstacle course, manipulating and organizing objects.
A typical day involves receiving instruction in robotics, computer-aided design, coding, and programming, followed by hands-on team-based work to design, build, and code autonomous robots.
This camp is ideal for high school students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, who are interested in exploring science and engineering fields and gaining practical experience in robotics, design, and programming.
UC Irvine campus
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