SummerITeens Robotics and Engineering Camp at SUNY Poly

A new Robotics & Engineering SummerITeens Camp was taught from June 27-30, 2016 for ages 12-15 at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica.

A new Robotics & Engineering SummerITeens Camp was taught from June 27-30, 2016 for ages 12-15 at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica.

A local FIRST Tech Challenge youth robotics team, Geared Up 6347 helped conceive and mentor the course. Geared Up is made up of eight impressive high school students from various local high schools around the Utica/Rome area. FIRST Tech Challenge robotics offers students a challenge to use critical thinking skills and technology to create robots to accomplish specific tasks in high action competitions.

Over the course of four days the students in this SummerITeens SUNY Poly camp learned about robotics, drivetrains, gears, structure, electronics, motors, wiring, Java programming, engineering notebook documentation, and teamwork, all during the process of creating their own robot to complete specific challenges. In addition to the lesson plan and informative presentations Geared Up specifically created for the campers, other thought provoking presentations from guest speakers regarding STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) were given.

Ryan Miller, Director of thINCubator in Utica shares a presentation on leadership with teen students at the Robotics & Engineering SummerITeens Camp was taught from June 27-30, 2016 at SUNY Poly in Utica.

Ryan Miller, Director of thINCubator in Utica, NY shared a presentation on the topic of leadership to help the students understand the best way to work in a group and achieve their goals in their desired field. Daniel Buckingham a 3D Design and Sculpture Professor at Pratt@Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute presented on structure and construction to inform the Robotics & Engineering SummerITeens students how to build sturdy things on their own, such as custom components for their robots.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, NY is the FIRST Tech Challenge Partner from most of the counties in NY State in addition to FIRST LEGO League and LEGO League Junior Partner for Central NY.

Visit: sunypoly.edu/cpe_k_12/FTC.

FIRST Tech Challenge teams cultivate valuable life skills such as brainstorming, creative problem solving, collaboration, teamwork, planning, time management, leadership, as well as research skills and many technical experiences. Students come away with a greater appreciation of science & technology, and how it can be utilized to positively impact the world around them. FIRST Tech Challenge robotics is the perfect step-up for 7th – 12th graders aging out of Mindstorms/ FIRST Lego League robotics.

“FIRST” is an international organization, and stands for: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. FIRST’s mission is to inspire young, innovative people to become science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs, which builds skills in Science, Technology, and Engineering as well as in Leadership, Communication, and Teamwork.