When Dan Bobrowski joined Friends’ Central School five years ago, he brought with him 10 years of middle school science teaching experience and a passion for integrating robotics into education. What he found was an administration eager to support his vision of making robotics accessible to every student while also providing pathways for deeper engagement. Middle School Principal Andy White ’03 shared, “Dan came to us with that idea that grew into a thriving, dynamic, and exciting program. He’s truly an exceptional educator and coach.”

Today, that vision has blossomed into one of the region’s most comprehensive robotics programs, spanning from elementary through high school and producing nationally competitive teams that are turning heads in the FIRST Robotics community.

More Than Building Robots: Real-World Problem Solving

“Robotics provides a platform for real-world, hands-on problem-solving that deeply engages students,” explains Bobrowski, who serves as both a Middle School science teacher and head of Middle School robotics at the Wynnewood school. “We’re moving beyond abstract problems often found in traditional curricula to meaningful, realistic challenges.”

The program’s foundation begins in seventh grade with Mars Landing Day, a signature project where students work in teams to design, build, and program LEGO® rovers for simulated missions. This hands-on experience serves as both a core science curriculum component and preparation for students who want to take their robotics journey further.

“The beauty of using LEGO® as our platform is that students already have familiarity with it,” Bobrowski notes. “It provides an intuitive entry point for building while we introduce programming concepts through visual drag-and-drop block coding, similar to Scratch.”

From Regional Champions to National Recognition

The success of Friends’ Central’s approach became dramatically evident last year when their middle school competitive team, Phoenix 2.0, achieved something remarkable for such a young program. The team won the Champions Award at regional qualifiers held at the Franklin Institute – a prestigious recognition that evaluates excellence across robot performance, innovation project, and robot design.

But their most impressive achievement was their innovation project: a robotic fishing lure designed to revolutionize longline fishing. The students created a prototype that could swim autonomously, incorporate AI software for prey recognition, and humanely dispatch fish while avoiding endangered species.

“The students engaged with real experts – a professional fisherman and a marine biologist – to refine their solution,” Bobrowski explains. “This wasn’t just a theoretical exercise. They created a functional prototype that, given sufficient budget and production resources, could be a viable commercial solution.”

The Phoenix team’s success continued through a remarkable competitive season, advancing from regionals to place eighth overall at the Pennsylvania East Regional Championships among 60 teams, then earning the Engineering Excellence Award and ninth place overall at State Championships. Their journey culminated at the American Robotics Invitational at Liberty Science Center, where their robot placed fourth in competition with a high score of 405 points, and the team earned the Rising All-Star Award.

Skills That Transfer Beyond the Classroom

The program’s educational impact extends far beyond robotics competition. Students develop programming skills that progress from visual block coding to basic-to-moderate Python programming by eighth grade. On the engineering side, they explore simple machines, gears, and gear ratios using specialized Lego Technic pieces.

“What’s remarkable is watching students discover capabilities they didn’t know they had,” Bobrowski observes. “Some students who might struggle with traditional academic approaches find themselves excelling when they can see immediate, tangible results from their problem-solving.”

The program’s success has grown the competitive offerings. This year, Friends’ Central launched two middle school teams – Phoenix 3.0 and 3.1 – while the Upper School continues with their Earthquakers team, which earned Rookie All Star honors and reached District Event Finals in their inaugural 2023 season.

A Comprehensive K-12 Trajectory

What sets Friends’ Central’s program apart is its integration across all grade levels. The robotics journey begins in the Lower School with experiences starting in Nursery and continuing through to  fifth grade. Students in 6th grade can take Robotics during the Winter Athletics season. Middle School builds on this foundation with Mars Landing Day for all seventh graders and competitive team opportunities for eighth graders. Upper School students can join the Earthquakers team, which utilizes the school’s state-of-the-art Audrie Gardham Ulmer ’37 Center for Innovation & Design.

“We have two unique aspects to our program,” Bobrowski explains. “First, robotics is integrated into our curriculum for all students while also offering optional extensions and electives, so students can choose their level of engagement. Second, our administration provides unwavering support, giving me the freedom to develop and implement innovative ideas.”

This broad exposure allows students to discover interests they might not have otherwise explored while providing clear pathways for those who want to pursue robotics more seriously.

Making STEM Accessible and Engaging

The program’s philosophy centers on accessibility – ensuring that every student, regardless of technical background, can participate meaningfully. The familiar Lego platform removes intimidation while the curriculum structure allows students to progress at their own pace from basic building concepts to sophisticated programming and engineering applications.

“When students work on meaningful, realistic challenges, they learn better,” Bobrowski reflects. “They’re not just memorizing formulas or following instructions. They’re solving real problems, collaborating with teammates, and seeing the direct impact of their innovations.”

For Main Line families considering educational options, Friends’ Central’s robotics program represents more than just another STEM offering. It’s a comprehensive approach to developing critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation skills that will serve students throughout their academic careers and beyond.

The program’s trajectory from elementary exploration through national competition success demonstrates what’s possible when schools invest in hands-on, real-world learning experiences. As the Phoenix and Earthquakers teams continue to achieve new heights, they’re not just building robots – they’re building the innovators and problem-solvers our world needs.

Visit Friends’ Central this fall at an Admissions Open House. Click here to register.

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Photos courtesy of Megan Tidmore Photography.

Friends’ Central School’s story supports the Main Line Parent Community’s Education Guide. Collaborate with us.