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Get in touch with your local FIRST robotics team.

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc

I am a mentor for my local team. The program is absolutlely wonderful. It inspires and drives kids at many levels. Mentors run a huge range, from scientists amd engineers to welders, makers and really driven Mom's and Dad's. The common thread, among other things, is to inpire the kids to learn and apply technologyy to solve problems. Highhly recommended.

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Along these lines, the Botball program is a pretty amazing way to teach hands on engineering.

Bummer the OP just missed the 2014 Greater San Diego Tournament by a few days

http://www.botball.org/sca/2014/tournament

Agreed. I co-founded a FIRST FRC team during my time at high school and it remains one of the coolest things I've ever done. Program now is doubled in size and budget, and they accomplish some really cool things.

FRC league is for High School students. They have leagues for elementary and middle school students in Lego and Tetrix, respectively. FRC is the full blown CNC machined parts and rapid-prototyped/3D-printed awesomeness. (Or woodworking)

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