Summer Robotics & Coding Camp: Jul. 20, 2024

We embarked on an ambitious project aimed at sparking an interest in engineering among the children at the Life-Giving Tree Organization. This camp was designed to introduce the concept of autonomous vehicles through hands-on experience with a robot kit.

We dedicated weeks to researching the perfect robot kit that would allow the children to build and program their own autonomous vehicles. After much consideration, we settled on a kit that was engaging and educational, equipped with sensors to detect paths.

On the day of the camp, the excitement was palpable. Children eagerly arrived, ready to dive into the world of robotics and autonomous vehicles. Under our guidance, they set to work assembling their vehicles, attaching sensors, and learning how to program the robots to follow a designated path. The children quickly became absorbed in the activity.

We set up black tape on the floor to act as the paths that the autonomous vehicles would follow. This allowed the children to witness firsthand how sensors could detect the path and guide their vehicle along it. Now, the creativity of the children came to life. They started crafting their own complex paths, taping intricate designs across the entire room, each one hoping their vehicle would successfully navigate the twists and turns they had devised!

As the autonomous vehicles rolled along the black-taped roads, the room was filled with exclamations of joy and excitement! Some watched intently, ready to adjust the tape if their vehicle veered off course, while others celebrated every success, cheering as their vehicles crossed the finish line of their handmade courses.

For us, seeing the children's excitement was the ultimate reward. We believe this camp not only allowed the children to explore robot engineering principles but also provided us with the rewarding experience of sharing our knowledge and passion with the children. We hope that this camp experience had planted a seed of curiosity in the children, inspiring them to one day pursue careers in technology, engineering, or robotics.