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Students excel at STEM and Robotics Camp
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Recent Canfield High School graduate and member of FIRST Robotics Team 4601 Nick Crescimanno showed a camper how to solder wires for her robot during the STEM and Robotics Camp on Aug. 7.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.STEM and Robotics campers, from left, Maddie Puskar, Madelyn Tobey and Eva Johnson, showed off the robots they built during the camp on Aug. 7.
By ABBY SLANKER
A STEM and Robotics Camp for fifth- through eighth-graders was offered at Canfield High School on Aug. 4-8, with 24 students attending.
The camp was taught primarily by high school students and community volunteers, including recent Canfield High School graduates and members of FIRST Robotics Team 4601 Nick Crescimanno, Kyle Thompson, Mike Ramunno, CHS senior Paul Ugolini, Austintown Fitch robotics team, Falcotech, members Zack Venzeio and Zack While, CHS CAD and engineering graphics teacher Don Crum, CHS physics teacher Stephen Hlaudy, YSU physics professor Dr. Mike Crescimanno, Chief Technology Advisor of Tech Advisor Dave Wilkeson and Kevin Miller, consultant with Cogistix LLC.
Throughout the week, the campers were taught how to use hand tools and computer programs to build and program their own robot. The campers built their robots from a kit, including soldering wires and adding LED lights, while applying the concepts they learned.
“The goal of this camp is to get kids interested in robotics and science, technology, electronics and math. The camp is STEM-oriented. There is no comparable program in the schools so this gives them the opportunity to explore STEM and robotics. This camp is hands-on. The kids have to make it work. They have to figure it out. Teachers can’t teach this kind of experience. The kids have to do it themselves,” Wilkeson said.
According to Wilkeson, for its first year, the camp received a large application pool.
“We had a big response to the camp and received many applications. The students had to write an essay with their application as to why they wanted to attend the camp. The campers were then selected randomly with six from each grade level being selected,” Wilkeson said.
Wilkeson hoped the campers take away more than robotics and STEM-oriented knowledge from their experience at the camp.
“We wanted this camp to serve as a spark for the students. They have gained good knowledge throughout the week. Their work included group work during which students encouraged students and one kid would help another kid. That is a good way to learn. The campers were also self-guided and worked at their own pace and at different levels, with the older kids being more challenged,” Wilkeson said.
Wilkeson said he would like to make the camp an annual event, with the help of more student and community volunteers.
“We would like to make this camp an annual event, with the possibility of adding an advanced camp. We rely on our student and community volunteers, so we would welcome volunteers for next year, too,” Wilkeson said.