The Cryptonite Robotics Team 624 is made up of a students who compete in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition. Along with building robots, the Robotics team also partakes in several volunteering events.
Every year the CRyptonite Robotics team holds a science day camp to motivate younger students in science. Throughout the day, students from grades four to seven go through different scientific trials and lessons in order to challenge themselves.
“It provides a great opportunity for kids to learn,” senior Caroline Guardia said. “It’s also a great opportunity to get the word out about the CRyptonite Robotics team.”
According to senior vice president of Robotics Build Marc Outlaw, and junior Publicity Captain Francesca Sebastian, the day camp is an excellent way to incite enthusiasm for kids to learn about technology and other aspects of science. The camp offers 5 different stations, with a robotics member teaching at each station. The stations are labeled: engineering, physics, chemistry, robotics, and astronomy.
“I get to learn more about science stuff,” fifth grader Abby Pyne said. “I don’t just get to watch, but participate too.”
The members try to be patient with the kids, and are also resourceful when using scientific information. A goal was to keep the campers’ attention and interest in each objective and tutorial.
“Science camp is a great way for the Robotics team to give back to the community,” senior president Elizabeth Waters said. “It serves as a great platform for students in our district to gain exposure to, and spark desires in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).”
For example, students would perform experiments like “The Egg Drop”, or “The Mentos with Soda” experiment. Students also engaged in tasks like building a tower of newspaper at the engineering station, using wine glasses filled with water to produce harmonic sounds, and making a Lego robot of their own design and program it at the robotics station.
“I enjoyed myself,” fourth grader Rebecca Reeves said. “It was really fun.”
Several young students enjoyed the science camp, and now, like Abbey and Rebecca, have a new found grip over science.
“This science camp is the bee’s knees,” Robotics electronics captain Bill Waters said.
