Kids Attend Robotics Camp at ISU

The first ever HaYwIrE Robotics Summer Camp got underway today helping students from across Southeastern Idaho learn how robots work

There are about two dozen kids at this years camp, and organizers say their goal is to help more young people become interested in science and technology. Mark Edwards, a science teacher at Pocatello High School who helped organize the camp said, "We have students coming from as fas South as Downey, as far North as Aberdeen, and one student came in from Meridian."

Over the next five days these kids will learn how to build basic robots and program them to run on their own. Today students equipped their robots with sensors to recognize and move along lines of electrical tape. Something that didn't always go right. Daylin Penrod, a 13-year-old camper said, "It's frustrating because you don't-the robot won't tell you what to do."

Even with the challenges students say the camp is great. Dirk Stahlecker, a 14-year-old camper said, "I've learned a lot about programming that I never knew before, and I find that interesting. Along with being able to work with the Vex set." His teammate, 13-year-old Daniel Spreier added, "I think its been really fun even though it's still the first day. Its just been fun building the robot and making it work."

Over the next few days the teams will have to add a working arm to their robot, and design it to go through an obstacle course. Coaches and mentors will be on hand to answer some questions, but the campers will have to do most of the work on their own.

Organizers say they've designed the camp to give students a taste of what it's like to participate in a real robot competition. "What we're doing here in five days is a smaller version of what we do in six weeks during the competitive season," said Edwards.

The District 25 High School robotics team, HaYwIrE who is hosting this summers camp say they hope it will raise some money, and help them recruit future team members.