Center for Future Innovators

06/05/2026

CFI Robotics NFP is excited to launch a new program: AgentVenture: The Youth AI Agent Venture Challenge.

AgentVenture is a free AI innovation and entrepreneurship competition for students in Grades 5–8. Students may participate individually or in teams of 1–3. Through the challenge, students will learn how to design AI agents, solve real-world problems, build a visual workflow prototype, and pitch their ideas like young entrepreneurs.

No prior coding experience is required. What matters most is curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and the willingness to explore new ideas.

Registered contestants may participate in optional online workshops to learn about AI agents, problem selection, solution design, visual workflow prototyping, and pitch preparation. The program will conclude with a hybrid Final Showcase, where selected finalist teams will present their projects live to judges. Local teams may present in person at the CFI Center in Chicago, while out-of-area teams may participate online.

Program Highlights:

[玫瑰]Free of charge
[玫瑰]Open to students in Grades 5–8
[玫瑰]Individual or teams of 1–3 students
[玫瑰]No coding experience required
[玫瑰]Optional online workshops Hybrid Final Showcase: Chicago + online option
[玫瑰]Up to 20 finalist teams will pitch live to judges

We also welcome high school students who are interested in joining the AgentVenture High School Leadership Team to support workshops, operations, outreach, technology, and event organization.

Registration Link:
https://forms.gle/sb3m7dpmkke2RQta7

Please feel free to share this opportunity with students, families, schools, and community partners. We also welcome support from businesses, organizations, community groups, and individual sponsors to help us provide student awards, workshops, tools, and Final Showcase support while keeping the program free for all participating students.

06/05/2026

CFI Robotics NFP is excited to launch AgentVenture: The Youth AI Agent Venture Challenge.

This free AI innovation and entrepreneurship competition is open to students in Grades 5–8. Students can join individually or in teams of 1–3 and will learn how to design AI agents, solve real-world problems, create visual workflow prototypes, and pitch their ideas.

No coding experience is required. Students just need curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to explore new ideas.

Program Highlights:
Free to join
Grades 5–8
Individual or teams of 1–3
No coding experience required
Optional online workshops
Hybrid Final Showcase in Chicago and online
Up to 20 finalist teams will pitch live to judges

We are also welcoming high school students to join the AgentVenture High School Leadership Team.

Register here:
https://forms.gle/sb3m7dpmkke2RQta7

Please share with students, families, schools, and community partners. Sponsorship support is also welcome to help keep this program free for participating students.

06/05/2026

CFI Robotics NFP is excited to launch a new program: AgentVenture: The Youth AI Agent Venture Challenge.

AgentVenture is a free AI innovation and entrepreneurship competition for students in Grades 5–8. Students may participate individually or in teams of 1–3. Through the challenge, students will learn how to design AI agents, solve real-world problems, build a visual workflow prototype, and pitch their ideas like young entrepreneurs.

No prior coding experience is required. What matters most is curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and the willingness to explore new ideas.

Registered contestants may participate in optional online workshops to learn about AI agents, problem selection, solution design, visual workflow prototyping, and pitch preparation. The program will conclude with a hybrid Final Showcase, where selected finalist teams will present their projects live to judges. Local teams may present in person at the CFI Center in Chicago, while out-of-area teams may participate online.

Program Highlights:

Free of charge
Open to students in Grades 5–8
Individual or teams of 1–3 students
No coding experience required
Optional online workshops
Hybrid Final Showcase: Chicago + online option
Up to 20 finalist teams will pitch live to judges

We also welcome high school students who are interested in joining the AgentVenture High School Leadership Team to support workshops, operations, outreach, technology, and event organization.

Registration Link:
https://forms.gle/sb3m7dpmkke2RQta7

Please feel free to share this opportunity with students, families, schools, and community partners. We also welcome support from businesses, organizations, community groups, and individual sponsors to help us provide student awards, workshops, tools, and Final Showcase support while keeping the program free for all participating students.

06/04/2026

Thank you, Palos Heights School District 128!
We are excited to spend the summer together!

🤖⚙️ STEAM Summer Camp is coming to Chippewa Elementary School!

Students entering Grades 2–5 can spend August 3–7 exploring robotics, engineering, coding, STEM challenges, and hands-on learning through an exciting partnership with CFI Robotics and the Center for Future Innovators.

📅 August 3–7, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Chippewa Elementary School
👨‍🔬 Incoming Grades 2–5 D128 Students
💲 $400 per student

Students will build LEGO® robots, compete in RoboSumo matches, tackle engineering challenges, and strengthen teamwork and problem-solving skills.

🔗 Register today:
https://forms.gle/oEKZDib1gDnisBYP9

For additional information, contact Brian Meadows, Executive Director of CFI Robotics, at [email protected] or 773-656-3466.

This camp is operated by CFI Robotics/Center for Future Innovators and is not a District 128 program. Registration, payment, and program operations are managed by CFI Robotics.

06/01/2026

Thank you, everyone, who joined us for the last class of the Spring season today!

05/31/2026

A great day at CFI LEGO Science class!

05/27/2026

CFI Summer Weekend Classes Are Open!

Registration is now open for our summer Saturday classes at the CFI Robotics Center.

Classes start Saturday, July 11

Students can join hands-on classes in LEGO Robotics, Robo Arena, LEGO Science, Python Robotics, 3D Design, Arduino Engineering, and Innovators Guild.

Seats are limited for each class.

Learn more and register here:
https://forms.gle/vqGcn4nRocW1MTMo7

05/25/2026

Team TerraBytes Takes Learning Beyond the Robotics Table!

Today, Team TerraBytes visited the Field Museum as part of their preparation for Nationals and their FIRST LEGO League Innovation Project.

The team focused on the Native American and Cahokia-related exhibits, connecting what they learned at the museum to the research and ideas behind their project. This was a great chance for students to explore history, culture, engineering, archaeology, and problem-solving outside of the classroom.

With Nationals coming up in less than two weeks, Team TerraBytes continues to show what CFI Robotics is all about: learning deeply, working together, and using STEM to better understand the world around us.

Great job, Team TerraBytes! We are proud of your hard work and excited to cheer you on at Nationals!

05/25/2026

Our Arduino Engineering students are building 3D Printed Robot Arms!

Today, students built their robot arms and wired the circuits for their 3-axis servo arm. Each servo is controlled by two buttons, so students had to carefully connect the servos, buttons, power, and ground to make the full control system work.

This week, students will continue working on the code for homework. Next weekend, we will test the robot arms and see them in action!

Great work to our young engineers as they continue building real hands-on robotics, coding, and engineering skills.

05/25/2026

Our newest LEGO Science build is a gear-driven walker!

In LEGO Science, students explore how gears interact, how mechanical advantage works, and how simple machines like levers can help create movement. This build gave students a hands-on way to see physics and engineering in action as they designed, tested, and worked together to build their walking robots.

Great work to our young engineers!