Packard museum to host robotics exhibition

Staff report

WARREN

Warren’s McGuffey School Titonics team of the FIRST LEGO League will present a robotics exhibition from noon to 2 p.m. April 6 at the National Packard Museum, 1899 Mahoning Ave. NW.

Children and adults can watch the Titonics and other local robotic teams in action. With the guidance of their coaches, FIRST LEGO League teams focus on solving real-world problems such as food safety, recycling, and energy by applying science, technology, engineering, and math concepts, plus a big dose of fun.

Teams design, build, and program a LEGO Mindstorms robot, then compete on a themed table-top playing field. Along their journey, students develop critical-thinking and team-building skills, build science and math self-confidence, and gain valuable perspective on the importance of failure in the learning process.

FIRST – which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology – was founded by inventor Dean Kamen and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Woodie Flowers to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science, technology, engineering, and math endeavors, and to lead them into STEM career fields.

For more information on FIRST, go to firstinspires.org.

Admission to the museum’s Legacy Gallery will be free for those attending.

Housed in a modern 22,000-square-foot facility, the museum’s collection is as diverse as the Packard family itself. It includes a Packard car collection spanning from 1900 to 1956.

Along with classic cars, the museum also preserves and exhibits Packard Electric history, along with personal items and artifacts that belonged to the Packard family, including clothing, furniture, and photographs.

Exhibits also highlight the Packard family’s philanthropic legacy, which included Packard Park, Packard Music Hall and the WD Packard Band.

The museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 ($5 for senior citizens and children age 7-12).

For information, go to packardmuseum.org.