By the end of the week
Every innovator will have built a working robot that walks, sees, hears, and responds — and walks away with it.
They'll have written real Python they can show to schools and employers — and the most distinctive summer-camp story their friends have ever heard.
5 days
One intensive week
200+
Parts assembled by hand
1
Robot to keep
1
Live showcase
What sets this apart
Not a summer camp. A robotics build week.
One innovator. One robot.
Every innovator builds and programs their own robot from over 200 parts — and takes it home.
Built from 200+ parts.
Frame, servos, sensors, Raspberry Pi, robot HAT, camera — assembled, wired, and calibrated by hand.
Subject-matter-expert guidance.
Hands-on instruction through every assembly and code milestone — never figuring it out alone.
Real Python on real hardware.
Not block coding. Real Python that drives motion, vision, and decision-making on physical hardware.
Modern AI integration.
Direct exposure to ChatGPT, Gemini, and voice input — innovators wire LLMs into their own robot's behavior.
Showcase Day.
On Friday, every innovator demos their autonomous robot live to family and friends.
Notebook + GitHub portfolio.
Engineering notebook and GitHub portfolio every innovator takes home for college and competition applications.
Sibling & group discounts.
Discount codes accepted at checkout for families and groups — reach out for organizational rates.
Week at a glance
From raw parts on Monday to autonomous on Friday.
Foundations
Frame & first servos
Servo calibration
Leg construction
Raspberry Pi setup
Workbench safety
Complete Build
Torso to first boot
Torso assembly
Sensor integration
Head and camera
First walk
Python & Motion
Scripted behavior
Python fundamentals
Motion sequencing
Trick routines
Debug & iterate
Sense & Vision
Autonomous behaviors
Obstacle avoidance
Touch-reactive responses
Computer vision
Face & object tracking
AI & Showcase
Voice + public demo
LLM voice integration
Custom personality
Showcase rehearsal
Live demo to family
Your Instructor
Led by a subject-matter expert
Dr. Anaiya Reliford
Founder · Lead Instructor · Senior Research Scientist
Dr. Anaiya Reliford is a researcher, educator, and mentor dedicated to expanding access to hands-on STEM education. She earned her Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences and both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Chemical Engineering from Howard University, and currently serves as a Senior Research Scientist at the Research Institute for Tactical Autonomy, advancing AI and machine learning systems that support real-world air and space operations.
For more than a decade, Dr. Reliford has mentored young innovators ages 6–24 in robotics, engineering design, aerodynamics, and emerging technologies. She brings the same hands-on rigor that drives the year-round Orbit curriculum into a single, intensive camp week.
Her research and engineering experience spans NASA Goddard, NOAA Air Resources Laboratory, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, and the FBI — and she is an FAA Part 107 licensed remote pilot.
Camp Details
Everything parents need to know
Camp Information
You can expect high demand on first-come, first-serve spots. Only 20 spots available — register early to secure your place.
Summer 2026 · Dates announced soon · Washington, DC.
About O² Innovators
Orbit of Opportunity (O²) is a STEM education program built on the belief that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Through hands-on Orbits — multi-week programs that take innovators from first principles to a finished, presentable project — we equip middle- and high-school students with the technical skills, professional habits, and portfolio artifacts that open doors to top universities, scholarships, and careers.
Our summer camps condense the Orbit experience into a single intensive week — a finite, high-impact entry point into the work we do year-round.
Skill Levels
Every innovator is grouped with a peer of similar experience for partner work, but the curriculum is designed so a complete beginner and a seasoned coder can both leave with a robot they're proud of. Faster innovators take on stretch challenges — custom servo choreography, advanced computer vision, multi-step LLM behaviors. Newer innovators get extra one-on-one time during the build phase.
What's Included in the Fee
Five full days of subject-matter-expert-led instruction
Take-home robot built and programmed by the innovator
Showcase event open to family and guests
Certificate of completion signed by O² CEO, Dr. Anaiya Reliford
What to Bring
Laptop (Mac or Windows — both compatible)
Refillable water bottle
Closed-toe shoes
A packed lunch and snacks
Curiosity and patience
Transportation
Transportation is not provided. Innovators are responsible for arrival and pickup. There is no supervision before or after camp hours, so please arrange timely pickup.
Medical Protocol
In case of emergency, innovators will be transported to the nearest hospital. Required medical and release forms must be completed before the first day of camp.
Reserve Your Spot
Twenty seats. One unforgettable week.
Final dates and venue will be confirmed before the camp week. Reservations lock in your seat at the current rate.
2026 Cohort Reservation
$895
All-inclusive: 5 days of instruction, a take-home robot built and programmed by the innovator, the Showcase event, and a CEO-signed certificate of completion.
What's included
Five full days of subject-matter-expert-led instruction
Take-home robot built and programmed by the innovator
Showcase event open to family and guests
Certificate of completion signed by O² CEO, Dr. Anaiya Reliford
Frequently Asked Questions
What age range is this for?
Does my innovator need prior coding experience?
Do siblings get a discount?
What does Showcase Day look like?
Is lunch or food provided?
What is the refund or transfer policy?
Can parents attend Showcase Day?
One week. One robot. A story they'll tell for years.
Seats fill quickly — reserve early to lock in your spot for the 2026 cohort.
Looking for the year-round program? Visit the Build. Code. Unleash. Orbit.