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BFHS FIRST Robotics Team Alpha+ hosts summer
camp |
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August 11, 2017 |
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By Neil Martin
At the end of July, twenty-five students, grades
four through six, participated in a four-day
Summer Robotics Camp, hosted by BFHS FIRST
Robotics Team 2130 Alpha+. The camp was
organized and run solely by the high school team
members, whose goal was to introduce younger
students to the joys of computer programming and
robotics.
This year’s game, Maze Mania, challenged the
students to navigate their robots through a
four- by eight-foot table maze, while avoiding
the point penalties of crossing over walls.
Additionally, they could choose to remove wiffle
and ping pong balls from stands, with the choice
of carrying them back to base for more points.
They overcame these challenges using only Legos,
a miniature computer known as the NXT device,
and their imaginations.
The students were divided into five teams, each
accompanied by a high school mentor and a junior
mentor from middle school FIRST Lego League
Robotics Team Omega. The summer camp
participants were guided through the building
process of brainstorming, designing,
prototyping, and final construction.
When each of the five teams completed their
unique robots, they were tasked with programming
their computers to complete specific actions,
with the help of attachments and various
sensors.
Teams also practiced valuable concepts such as
“Gracious Professionalism”- the idea that
despite ongoing competition, teams should be
helpful and civil to one another. As a result,
students were seen sharing Legos with other
teams and genuinely recognizing the efforts of
others.
At the end of the four days, each of the teams
participated in a final ranked competition,
enthusiastically showing other teams and their
families what they had learned. Each team found
their own ways to navigate the maze, utilizing
their unique designs to make it as far as
possible while knocking the different scoring
balls off of their stands.
In addition to robotics, camp participants also
enjoyed science activities, arts and crafts
projects and group games. Each camp participant
received a t-shirt.
As a result of participating in the camp, Alpha+
members hope that upon reaching middle school,
students will join FIRST Lego League Robotics
Team Omega.
For more information, please contact Jacob
Garrison at
jacob.garrison@mail.bcsd101.com.
This camp would not have been possible without
the appreciated help of our team mentors, BCMS
FIRST Lego League Robotics Team Omega, parents
and community members who were involved. Alpha+
is looking forward to hosting its Summer
Robotics Camp again next year. |
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