Overview
Robotics and engineering come together in this innovative summer tech camp where students make friends and develop new STEM skills working with qualified teachers and using state-of-the-art technology. Campers, ages 8-15, are grouped by age and ability to create robots, learn coding and engineering skills, as well as 3-D modeling. Small classes allow for individual attention and team projects as campers make friends while advancing their math, science, engineering, and problem-solving skills.
Ojai Valley School is a leader in K-12 technology education, offering hands-on learning and a competitive robotics program. This speciality camp is an extension of that program. In the morning, campers work with instructors who bring extensive backgrounds in physics, computer science and advanced robotics. In the afternoon, they join their peers for fun afternoon activities including swimming, archery, and more.
Robotics Camp (Grades 3-8)
Robotics Camp involves the conception, design, manufacture, and operation of robots. Through hands-on, innovative projects, campers who are passionate about technology and its application will develop a multitude of math, science, engineering, STEM, and problem-solving skills. Robotics Camp is offered for students entering grades 3-8 in fall, and meets Monday-Friday during the morning program. Based on their individual skills, prior knowledge and length of time in the program, campers will be grouped accordingly and introduced to concepts as follows:
Advanced Robotics
| Skills and Activities |
|---|
| Build simple circuits from kits, learning basic electrical engineering skills. |
| Assemble and program Arduino micro-controllers and use attached sensors to collect data for scientific experiments, interact with human users, and control simple robots. |
| Build and program Lego Mindstorm robots and compete in a series of Robot Olympic challenges. |
| Create robots using Tetrix hardware and Modern Robotics electronics, programmed in Java using Android Studio, and controlled wirelessly through Android phones (same equipment used by Ojai Valley School FTC Robotics teams). |
| Dissect electronic appliances like phones, laptops, printers; and identify common circuit components. |
| Learn 3-D modeling in Google Sketchup, and make models on our 3-D printer, an Ultimaker 2. |
| Learn a programming language of their choice through CodeAcademy.com (Java, Python, Javascript, etc), and write simple programs to complete coding challenges. |
Beginning Robotics
| Skills and Activities |
|---|
| Explore basic concepts of electricity including basic circuits, resistors, batteries and wires. |
| Create Lego robots, design circuits using Little Bits |
| Program Arduino micro-controllers |
| Use simple coding techniques to navigate obstacles and accomplish tasks with Lego Mindstorm robots |
| Develop a basic understanding of the design process |
| Experience thinking through all aspects of a problem when considering a decision |
| Experiencing the value of success after many failures |
| Understanding the value of brainstorming and teamwork |
Each afternoon, robotics campers participate in a wide range of afternoon activities with campers from other programs.