FIRST Tech Challenge · Team 7039 · Richmond, VA
The Fellowship Is Recruiting
A community robotics team for middle and high school students, neurodivergent- and LGBTQ+-affirming since 2011. Beginners welcome. We train.
Start here
What brings you here?
Video lounge
See the team in action
Why we exist
Built for the kids the pipeline overlooks
Lord of the Bricks was designed around inclusion from the start. We are the oldest continuously competing community FTC team in the region, with no school behind us: public, private, and homeschool students work on one team.
We teach by "I do, we do, you do." Every veteran trains a replacement, and alumni come back to mentor the next group.
This season: BIOBUZZ
Our 2026–27 robot is Beorn, named for the bear-man beekeeper from The Hobbit. Every robot we build takes a Tolkien name. Watch the game
First event: Powhatan Qualifier II, Sunday, December 6.
Join the team
Find your place on the team
For middle and high school students, ages 11 and up. No experience needed.
- Meetings
- Tuesdays 6:30 PM and Saturdays 3:00 PM. See the calendar
- Where
- BuildRVA, 3301-D Rosedale Ave, Richmond, VA 23230
- Team dues
- Pay what you can. Pay by credit card
- Membership
- BuildRVA membership, $50 a month. Families can fully volunteer this away. Sign up
Cost should never be the reason a student sits out.
Questions first?
Come to a meeting and see the shop, or reach Coach Shari directly.
lordofthebricksrobotics@gmail.com804-410-4474Every role matters
New members
Getting started on the team
Work through these in order. Check marks save on this device only, so each family keeps its own list.
Family: before the first meeting
Student: your first month
Team basics
- Team
- FTC 7039, Lord of the Bricks
- Game
- BIOBUZZ, 2026–27
- Robot
- Beorn
- Meetings
- Tue 6:30 PM, Sat 3:00 PM at BuildRVA
- Coach
- Shari Robinson
Useful links
- LotB team calendar Meetings, events, and changes.
- Video lounge Team matches, builds, and outreach.
- BIOBUZZ game video How the game is played.
- BIOBUZZ rules video This season's game, explained.
- BIOBUZZ Competition Manual The rules for this season.
- FTC game and season page Game animation and field tour.
- FTC team management resources Competition and awards prep.
Competition prep
Road to the Chesapeake Championship
Powhatan Qualifier II
Sunday, December 6, 2026
Powhatan High School, 1800 Judes Ferry Road, Powhatan, VA
| Date | Event | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Dec 6, 2026 | Powhatan Qualifier IIPowhatan High School | Registered |
| Sun, Dec 13, 2026 | Charlottesville Qualifier IICharlottesville, VA | Registered |
| Sun, Jan 24, 2027 | Lynchburg Qualifier IILynchburg, VA | Registered |
| Feb 6–7, 2027 | FTC Chesapeake ChampionshipMeadow Event Park, Doswell, VA | If we advance |
FIRST Chesapeake reserves Jan 30–31 as snow make-up dates. Dates can change, so check our FIRST event page before you travel, and see the team calendar for practices.
Know the game
Watch both before your first event. Drivers, coaches, and scouts should know them well.
BIOBUZZ game
BIOBUZZ rules
Prep checklist
Rule numbers refer to the BIOBUZZ Competition Manual. Check Team Updates for changes.
Robot
Judging and team
Pack list
Event day
Sponsor the season
Back a team that builds engineers
We have no school funding. Grants, sponsors, and fundraising pay for every part, entry fee, and hour in the shop.
Sponsor levels
Every gift of $50 or more puts you on the team shirt. The more you give, the bigger your spot, and larger gifts add the robot, the banner, and the lab. Shirts print once a season, so give by the print date to make this year's run.
Friend
- Your name on the back of the team shirt
- Name on this site
Hobbit
- Small logo on the back of the team shirt
- Name on this site
- Thank-you on team social media
Ranger
- Medium logo on the shirt back
- Logo on the robot
- Logo on this site
- Named in our engineering portfolio
Wizard
- Large logo on the shirt back
- Logo on the team banner
- Everything in Ranger
Fellowship
- Logo on the shirt sleeve
- Logo displayed in the BuildRVA robotics lab
- Largest logo on the robot and banner
- Robot demo for your staff or customers
- Everything in Wizard
Or fund something specific
Real costs from our 2026–27 budget.
How to give
Cash, parts, shop space, printing, and professional mentoring all help. Contact Coach Shari and we will send what you need for your records.
lordofthebricksrobotics@gmail.com804-410-4474Lord of the Bricks is a program of Pierian Spring Foundation, Inc., a Virginia 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 46-2750506.
Thank you
- Curry in a Hurry RVAPrimary monetary sponsor
- REV RoboticsBrand Ambassador team
- Homeschool Resources GroupTeam sponsor
- BuildRVAOur home shop
Our history
Competing since 2012
Founded as an FLL team in 2011, with FTC starting in 2012 as Team 6071 and Team 7039 entering in 2013. The record below comes from FIRST's database and our own engineering notebooks.
Beyond the field
- FIRST GlobalAdvisory team to Suriname and Zimbabwe.
- e-NABLE3D-printed prosthetic hands for children in Haiti.
- Regional kickoffCo-hosted the region's FTC kickoff for two seasons with FRC 422 at Maggie Walker.
- Virginia FIRST Robotics DayLed the FTC committee for the 2026 event at VCU.
- Richmond schoolsA 451-student STEM expo at Henderson Middle and a 165-student career day at McClenney Elementary.
The Lord of the Bricks universe
- FTC 7039, Lord of the BricksFlagship team since 2013.
- FTC 6071, Lord of the BricksOur original FTC team, 2012.
- FTC 16537, LogiCoyoteFounded by alumni.
- FTC 26309, BuildBotsFounded by alumni.
- FLL 9076, Lord of the BricksOur FIRST LEGO League team. Champion's Award at the 2018 Deep Run Qualifier, advancing to the Virginia/DC State Championship.
- Al Madina School of Richmond FLL teamStarted and mentored by Lord of the Bricks. Won the 1st Place Innovation Project Award at its qualifier and advanced to the Virginia FLL State Championship.
Video lounge
Watch our matches, builds, and outreach on YouTube