Offered the week of July 22-26 from 9:00-11:30 am at The Maxx, 94 Railroad St., New Milford. Maximum 6 campers.
The VEX Robotics Summer Camp is an exciting and hands-on program designed for students to dive into the world of robotics using the VEX Robotics platform: metal components, nuts and bolts! The camp is presented by leaders of the Brookfield High School FIRST Robotics Team 1099.
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Grades 6-12 or by permission. Week long summer camp. In-person only.
For students wanting to explore larger and more complex robots using metal components, nuts and bolts, and hands-on electrical connections. This topic is especially good for students wanting to gain skills for a VEX or FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) competition team, or who want to learn a C-based language or Python and have a fun way to apply it. This topic is especially good for students wanting to gain skills for a VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) team or FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team, or who want to begin learning a new programming language and have a fun way to apply it.
Over the course of a week, campers will have the opportunity to design, build, and program their own remote-controlled robots equipped with claw manipulators. The highlight of the camp will be a thrilling game challenge where campers' robots will compete against each other. Campers will be using RobotC software, which can be used as both a block-based or script-based coding software. Learn more about RobotC.
Program Objectives:
- Learn the fundamental concepts of robotics, including design principles, construction techniques, and programming skills.
- Learn to program the robot using RobotC programming language
- Develop problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork abilities through hands-on robot building and programming activities.
- Gain practical experience in the engineering design process by repeated improvements of your robot's performance.
- Foster creativity and innovation by encouraging campers to explore unique design solutions and strategies.
- Experience the excitement of friendly competition and develop sportsmanship values through the game challenge.
Grades 3-6 & 7-12. 1-day workshops, or multi-day classes and week long summer camp, 2 hours/class. In-person only.
Build a robot and learn fundamentals of programming and robotics engineering with LEGO’s programmable NXT or EV3 robotics system of controller, motors, sensors and Mindstorms software. The use of NXT or EV3 system will depend on the student’s age and experience. Students will work in pairs but exceptions may be allowed to work alone. Once students accomplish required tasks and simpler challenges, they can choose from higher level challenges or build a more complex robot of their own design or one provided by the instructors. Depending on availability, students may also be able to use robots to solve FIRST LEGO League competition missions. The final class will include optional robot battles within a 4 foot arena ring where students test mechanical design and programming strategies against each other.
Grades 3-12 or by permission. 1-day workshops, or 1 to 2 hour sessions in multi-day classes and week long summer camps. In-person or Online.
Tinkercad is a great way for students interested in 3D modeling and design to get a feel for what working in a 3D environment is like! Tinkercad is a free, introductory educational software created by engineering software company Autodesk. Tinkercad runs in your browser so it requires no software download and allows you to create an account and save your projects. Students will learn how to create, dimension, combine, and customize pre-generated and custom drawn geometric shapes to create basic models, parts, and inventions. Tinkercad has many other fun uses like electronics and “brick building.” Tinkercad is also the perfect start for moving up to Autodesk Fusion 360, which is our choice for teaching higher levels of 3D modeling, product design, mechanical design and making prototypes. Each student can choose one suitable model to be printed by Robotics And Beyond and picked up in New Milford or mailed to the home.
Requirements:
- Computer access (Windows, Mac, or Chromebook all work!)
- Access to Google Chrome (other browsers may work but Chrome is what we base our classes on, so certain aspects may differ on Safari, Firefox, Edge, etc.)
- An Autodesk Tinkercad account (a tutorial for making the account will be sent to parents before classes begin)
Grades 3-6. Offered as 1 to 1.5 hour sessions in week long summer camps or after school and weekend workshops. In-person only.
Using basic materials or LEGOs, students will be given a variety of challenges and then design and build solutions for them. The challenges may be structural, functional or simply artistic, but the focus will be on coming up with original ideas, discovery and aesthetics, as well as solving the problem given by the challenge. Working alone, in pairs or as a group, students will be encouraged to let their curiosity and imagination lead them to create innovative designs for each challenge.