POTSDAM -- After operating two years in Clarkson’s Peyton Hall Business Incubator, the 24-year-old owner of the business decided to move her business to downtown Potsdam. The Robot Zone is now located at 71 Market St.

Amanda Clapper discovered her passion for robotics when she was in high school and is so devoted to STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) that she interrupted her studies at Clarkson University to establish her own business, The Robot Zone.

The idea for the business came about when Clapper and some of her fellow students were mentors for a robotics team. The kids were excited and having blast, Clarkson said, but that enthusiasm wasn’t being backed up by technology education in the classroom. She worked with Associate Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering James Carroll to help start STEM programs at area high schools and middle schools. The demand was too high to support all the programs, so she decided to start a company.

As one walks in the door, a 3D printer is always running. There’s a green screen wall for video editing and recording, a storage room with Legos to build and play, space to build robots, and printers. People can pick which colors and materials they want to use. There’s also space where older kids can be safety certified and make large robots that require machining.

The Robot Zone student customers range in age from 5 to 18. So far the boys outnumber the girls, but Clapper works with local Girl Scout troops.