There are a growing number of summer camps springing up around the nation that teach robotics on an entry level. These are educational venues where young hobbyists can learn the basics and get the chance to assemble robots ranging in complexity from entry level kits to more advanced projects that embody early levels of “professional tool chains” used by programmers who have moved beyond BASIC.
Robotics summer camps help fill an essential educational gap that continues to exist in many of our schools.
Below, you'll find an expanded listing of contact information and camp lesson programs.
Check it out if you are a hobbyist, student, educator or parent who wants to know more about what opportunities are available in your area this summer!
CALIFORNIA
Kenneth Berry, Assistant Professor of Technology Education
Platform: LEGO Mindstorms
Grades: 5th to 10th grade
Where: California State University, Northridge, Northridge California http://www.saep.net/
Tech Museum of Innovation
Where: San Jose, CA
What: 9 full weeks of Lego Robotics to aspiring scientists and engineers entering. Each summer, Grades: 4th through 8th
Dates for Lego Robotics: June 16 to August 15, 2008 (9 weeks of classes)
Hours: approximately 8:30am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Robotics & Things
P.O. Box 36
Dept. ROBOTIX
Simi Valley, CA 93062-0036
Neal L. Friedman, Director
robot@roboticsandthings.com (E-mail)
888.222.1809 Toll-Free Direct Line
888.ROBOTIX Toll-Free Info/Messages ONLY Line
888.746.4872 Toll-Free Fax Line www.roboticsandthings.com
ROBOTICS Camp/Summer Workshop
Platform: ROBOTIX - The Motorized, Modular, Space-Age Building System
Ages: 2-Groups/ 7-10 Years of Age & 11-14 Years of Age
Where: Thousand Oaks, CA
Dates: Starting May 10, 2008 and August 11th, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon DAILY
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Digital Media Academy @ Stanford University
Where: Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Platform: LEGO Mindstorms and VEX
Age: 9-13 and 13-17
Dates: August 6-10
Cost: Varies
Contact: info@digitalmediaacademy.org or 866-656-3342 http://www.digitalmediaacademy.org/courses/robotics.html
Talcott Mountain Science Center
Where: Montevideo Road Avon CT
Platform: Mindstroms NXT and VEX
Ages: 9-14
Dates: Throughout July
Cost: Day camp $270/week http://www.tmsc.org/summer/catalog.html
Contact: John A. Pellino, jpellino@g3.tmsc.org, (860) 677-0035
FLORIDA
J. Paul Wahnish, SAE Engineer, PLTW CIM Master Teacher
Platform: Special designed metal kit with "Standards" curriculum
Grades: 3rd to 10th grade
Where: East Lake High School, Tarpon Springs, Florida www.roboticsboosters.com
GEARS Education
Where: Daytona Beach Community College- Daytona Beach, FL
Platform: GEARS Ed
Contact: BenefiG@dbcc.edu
GEORGIA
YES! Youth Engaged in Science
Where: 867 Arnold Mill Rd
Woodstock, GA 30188 www.yesgeorgia.com
Grades: 1st-12th
Platform: LEGO Mindstorms and VEX
Contact: 770.591.6719
HAWAII
RoboTech Exploration
Grades: 5-8 as of Jan
1, 06
Who: Art Kimura, art@higp.hawaii.edu
Where: Kauai Community College in Lihue, Kauai.
What: two strands daily: one is an introduction to
robotics using the Lego Mindstorms kits/software, the other will feature
students using electronics/technology kits which they will receive/take
home: the "BrainBox," an electronics kits which can build up to 150+
electronics activities and includes a CD for further work, and two
technology exploration kits (hands on...one on vehicles and the other on
electricity).
Platform: LEGO Mindstorms and BrainBox http://www.higp.hawaii.edu/futureflight/
ILLINOIS
Business, Technology, and Life Studies
Who: Mark Koch, Division Head
Where: Rolling Meadows High School
2901 Central Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Platform: VEX
Grades: High School
Contact: 847-718-5639, mkoch@d214.org
Intermediate/Advanced Robotics Camp
Where: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Director: Martin Hebel
Dates: July 13 - 18, 2008
Grades: High school
Fees: Overnight: $435,
Commuter: $310
Platform: VEX
Phone: 618-453-8806 Register on-line
Email: mhebel@siu.edu
Website: www.dce.siu.edu/youth/youthmain.htm
eFun Explorations Academy
Where: Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, IL (less than 25 miles southwest of downtown Chicago)
and MVCC Education Center at Blue Island in Blue Island, IL (less than 20 miles south of downtown Chicago)
Contact: Larry Langellier Dates, langellier@morainevalley.edu,
Moraine Valley Community College
9000 West College Drive, T111
Palos Hills, IL 60465
Phone: 708-974-5627 (direct line)
Multiple courses are available from June 2 – July 17
Ages: 8-18 (different courses are available for different ages)
Platform: LEGO NXT w/ NXT-G software
Phone: 708-974-5627 (direct line) http://www.morainevalley.edu/vlc/eFun_Academy.htm
Early Robotics Summer Program for Children
Where: Tufts University Center for Engineering Educational Outreach
Who: Elissa Milto, elissa.milto@tufts.edu
Platform: LEGO bricks and ROBOLAB
Dates: August 13-17; 9am -12pm
Grades: students entering grades 1 & 2 in September
2008 http://ceeo.tufts.edu/content/view/67/54/
RoboTech
Ages: 7-17
Where: Nashua, NH, Long Island, NY, and MA
Platform: Sony AIBO, Laptop Robots, MindstormsNXT
Registration: www.robotechcenter.com or call 1-603.888.6102
Contact: Naveena Swamy, Co-founder & CEO
RoboTech Center
110 Daniel Webster Highway
Nashua NH 03060 http://www.robotechcenter.com robots@robotechcenter.com
MICHIGAN
The L2Bot camp
Who: Dr. CJ Chung, Computer Science Professor
Where: Lawrence Technological University
Platform: L2Bot with a webcam using Java
Dates of camp: July 7 – 11, 2008 (Tentative)
Time: day camp, 9am-3pm
Grades: 10-12th
Cost: $250 (Tentative)
Sponsor: Lawrence Technological University
Contact:
Lawrence Tech Univ.
21000 West 10 Mile Rd.
Southfield, MI 48075 chan2chung@yahoo.com
Adventure and Robotics in One Camp
Where: Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn Heights and Walled Lake
Director: Dr. George Albercook
Dates: Weeklong sessions June 23-August 22
Grade: 2-12
Platforms: Junkbots, LEGO RCX, LEGO NXT and Flutterbot
Phone: 734-645-0211
Email: Camp@RocksAndRobots.com
Website: www.RocksAndRobots.com
Snail mail: 424 Little Lake Dr. Suite #37, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
MCWTF Girls Technology Camp 2008
Who: Dr. CJ Chung, Computer Science Professor
Where: Lawrence Technological University
Platform: NXT using NXTG; (also the camp teaches web design)
Dates of camp: July 16-20, 2008
Time: day camp, 9am-4pm
Grades: 6-7th (only for girl students)
Cost: less than $50
Sponsor: Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation
Contact:
Lawrence Tech Univ.
21000 West 10 Mile Rd.
Southfield, MI 48075
Vision-based Autonomous Robotics Camp
Where: Lawrence Tech University, Southfield
Director: Dr. CJ Chung
Dates: July 23-26 (tentative)
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Fee: $125.00
Platform: L2Bot with a webcam using Java
Snail mail: Lawrence Tech Univ., 21000 West 10 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48075
Contact: Lisa Kujawa, kujawa@ltu.edu
Fax: (248) 204-2018 www.ltu.edu
MINNESOTA
GEARS Education
Select Dates and Locations
Telephone: (781).878.1512
NEW HAMPSHIRE
FIRST Place
Where: FIRST, Manchester, New Hampshire
Platforms: NXT, RCX, Vex, Other
Topics: Robotics, Rock Climbing, Forensics, Science & Art
Grades: 1-10 grades, ages 6-16
Dates: New camps each week from July 7 to August 8
Times: 9:00AM - 3:00PM Daily, Monday-Friday
Fees: Vary by camp ($270-$380). Family & multi-camp discounts available.
Registration: Opens March 3rd http://www.usfirst.org/community/firstplace/content http://www.usfirst.org/community/firstplace firstplace@usfirst.org
RoboTech
Ages: 7-17
Where: Nashua, NH, Long Island, NY, and MA
Platform: Sony AIBO, Laptop Robots, MindstormsNXT
Registration: www.robotechcenter.com
or call 1-603.888.6102
Contact: Naveena Swamy, Co-founder & CEO
RoboTech Center
110 Daniel Webster Highway
Nashua NH 03060 http://www.robotechcenter.com robots@robotechcenter.com
RoboTech
Ages: 7-17
Where: Nashua, NH, Long Island, NY, and MA
Platform: Sony AIBO, Laptop Robots, MindstormsNXT
Registration: www.robotechcenter.com or call 1-603.888.6102
Contact: Naveena Swamy, Co-founder & CEO
RoboTech Center
110 Daniel Webster Highway
Nashua NH 03060 http://www.robotechcenter.com robots@robotechcenter.com
Program Information: Robot Camp 1: Rover (Intro)
June 23-June 27, 2008
For students entering grades 7-12 in the fall
2008 cost: TBA - price includes robot, software, programming cable, manual, and lunch.
Where: Schenectady, N.Y.
Daily Schedule:
9 AM - 12 PM: Morning Session
12 PM - 1 PM: Lunch
1 PM - 3 PM: Afternoon Lab Session
The tenth-annual, Union College Robot Camp is being offered by Union students and faculty.
This fun and educational camp is designed for students entering grades 7-12 in the fall.
This Union College day camp introduces middle and high school students to the exciting world of robotics. During the course of the camp, students learn to solder and program in Basic as they take a bag of parts and transform it into a working Carpet Rover Robot. The camp also includes sessions on robotics in general, and demonstrations of working robots developed by Union College students. The camp culminates in a friendly competition where students can show off their robots and software control programs.
Robot Camp 2: BiPed (Advanced)
Dates: July 7th - July 11th, 2008
Cost: $350.00 , price includes robot, software, programming cable, manual, and lunch.
Where: Schenectady, N.Y.
Daily Schedule:
9 AM - 12 PM: Morning Session
12 PM - 1 PM: Lunch
1 PM - 3 PM: Afternoon Lab Session
The FIRST annual, Union College Robot Camp 2: BiPed is being offered by Union students and faculty.
This fun and educational camp is designed for students that are entering grades 9-12 and have already attended Robot Camp 1 or have sufficient proficiency and experience with the subject.
Using a Biped Robot, students will continue their investigation into robotics, diving deeper into mechanics, electronics, and programming. By the end of the week, students will have built and programmed their Biped to perform a variety of behaviors ranging from the practical to the ridiculous.
Telephone: (518) 388-6473 Fernando Orellana
Email: orellanf@union.edu doc.union.edu/RobotCamp/
Directions: www.union.edu/Visitor_Center/Directions_to_Campus.php
AMNH SUMMER CAMPS (American Museum of Natural History) Robotics Camp
When: Monday-Friday, July 7-11
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
AMNH
$450 (SOLD OUT)
For children entering grades 6 or 7
Interested in a robotic expedition to Mars? Design, build, and program your own robot to explore an unknown planet! Using Lego Mindstorms robotic kits and computers, participants learn principles of robotics, computer programming, and teamwork during this exciting week.
To register, call 212-769-5200.
Address:
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024-5192
http://www.amnh.org/programs
Robotics Camp
When: Monday–Friday, August 4-8
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
AMNH
$450 (SOLD OUT)
For children entering grades 4 or 5
Interested in a robotic expedition to Mars? Design, build, and program your own robot to explore an unknown planet! Using Lego Mindstorms robotic kits and computers, participants learn principles of robotics, computer programming, and teamwork during this exciting week.
To register, call 212-769-5200.
Address:
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024-5192 http://www.amnh.org/programs
NORTH CAROLINA
Beginning LEGO Robotics
Who: Kevin Bernard
Where: Greensboro, NC
When: June 16 to 20th, 8am to noon
Cost: $200
Grades: All Grades
Platforms: LEGO and Vex
Contact: Kevin Barnard, kbarnard@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
Intermediate LEGO Robotics
Who: Kevin Bernard
Where: Greensboro, NC
When: June 23 to 27th, 8am to noon
Cost: $200
Grades: All Grades
Platforms: LEGO and Vex
Contact: Kevin Barnard, kbarnard@wsfcs.k12.nc.us
VEX robotics
Who: Kevin Bernard
Where: Greensboro, NC
When: July 7 to 11, 8 am to noon
Cost: $200
Grades: All Grades
Platforms: LEGO and Vex
Contact: Kevin Barnard, kbarnard@wsfcs.k12.nc.us PENNSYLVANIA
Naturetown / Robozoo Camp Where: Sarah Heinz House on Pittsburgh's North Shore
Duration: five days.
Dates: June 16-20 (preschool) / June 23-27 (age 6-8) / July 14-18 & July 21-25 (age 9-11)
Click for more information and registration forms. Sarah Heinz House website.
Deep Space Terraformers Camp
Where: Sarah Heinz House on Pittsburgh's North Shore
Duration: five days.
Dates: July 7-11 / July 28-Aug. 1 / Aug. 4-8 (all Terraformers camps age 11-14)
Click for more information and registration forms. Sarah Heinz House website.
Running your own robotics camp
Who: Robin Shoop, Director
http://www-education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/content/products/feature_previews/products/camps_on_disk/camps_on_disk.htm
Have you ever thought about running a robotics camp? Many teachers do exactly that every summer. It allows them to offer an extracurricular activity that excites both children and parents, helps students better understand the world in which they live, offers a unique forum to help kids learn math and science, and can even open the door for discussion of a full time robotics class in schools. And it can help pay the bills during those long summer months, too!
PUERTO RICO
Gears Education
Where: Smart Teens Camp at Center for Innovative Technologies
Platform: GEARS Ed
Emailt: helga@engiworks.com
Website: www.gearseds.com/
Project Fun Workshops
Robotics: Level One
This workshop introduces the fundamentals behind autonomous robot action and interaction. Participants learn the basics of robot mechanics, electronics, and software. As the students develop their skills, they have the option of competing in a series of competitions, culminating in the Iron Robot Challenge. Students will take home their robot and a Bluetooth dongle to continue programming them after the workshop.
Open to students entering Grade 8 and above.
5001 150th Ave
NE Redmond,
Washington 98052
Contact:
Phone: 866.478.5236
Fax: 425.558.0378 https://workshops.digipen.edu/workshops
WEST VIRGINIA
DUPLO
LEGO and DUPLO Camps, 2008
Where: Marshall University, Morrow Library Room 100, Huntington, West Virginia 25701
When: June 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Platform: DUPLO
Description: Set up a world of DUPLO -
Playground, stores, parks and zoo, homes and work places and transportation to get to them all.
Available to Students Four year olds to Third Graders
Contact: Linda Hamilton, hamilton@marshall.edu, (304) 696-7166
Course Limit: 15 students
Cost: $69 http://www.marshall.edu/LEGO/Summer08/Summer08.html
LEGO Technology Building
LEGO and DUPLO Camps, 2008
Where: Marshall University, Morrow Library Room 100, Huntington, West Virginia 25701
When: June, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Description: 3rd to 8th graders will build LEGO gears, pulleys, levers, wheels and axles into machines to solve a hundred challenges.
Learn about engineering through hands-on experience with LEGO materials.
Available to Students in Grades 3-8
Contact: Linda Hamilton, hamilton@marshall.edu, (304) 696-7166
Course Limit: 12 Students.
Cost: $89
Website: http://www.marshall.edu/LEGO/Summer08/RTISummer08.html
Dataloggers -Build and program environmental friendly LEGO Robots
June 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Students participate in small-team design projects while fostering an understanding of science and physical principles for robotics building and computer programming in RoboLab.
Projects are structured to allow students to work in an open-ended, investigative environment while having fun.
Each child is encouraged to work within his/her own abilities and explore new approaches and understandings along the way.
Throughout the week, children develop a strong background in design and construction along with programming logic as they work on fun engineering challenges.
Available to Students in Grades 4th up.
Great prep for FIRST LEGO League!
Contact: Linda Hamilton, hamilton@marshall.edu, (304) 696-7166
Course Limit: 12 Students
Cost: $99
UNITED KINGDOM
GEARS Education
Where: Imperial College of London
When: July 30–August 3 for 8 and 9 year olds
August 4-11 for 6 and 7 year olds
August 12-August 25 for 11-16 year olds
Platform: GEARS Ed.
Email: Richard.Palfrey@exscitec.org
MULTIPLE STATES
iD Tech Camps in 22 states.
Ages: 7-17
Description: Weeklong day and overnight summer technology programs where students build robots, learn programming, create 2D and 3D video games, design websites, edit movies, and create zany digital comic books.
Platform: VEX
Phone: 888-709-TECH
Website: www.internalDrive.com.
MATE Center for Underwater Robotics
Where:
Monterey Peninsula College
Platform: Underwater Robots
Dates: July 21-27, 2008
Contact: Lani Clough, lclough@marinetech.org, 831-646-4011
Monterey Peninsula College
980 Fremont Street
Monterey, CA 93940 http://www.marinetech.org/education/institutes.php
ASM MATERIALS CAMP FIRST LEGO League Coaches Training
Where: Placerita, CA at College of the Canyons
What: 3 day Coaches/Mentor Clinic.
When: Tentative dates are July 16 - 18.
This will be in
conjunction with our Santa Clarita Valley Robotics Camp.
Contact: Paul Kass, pkass@hartdistrict.org
INDIANA
Indiana Teachers Robotics Workshops
Where: 12 Ivy Tech Community College locations: Valparaiso, South
Bend, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, Kokomo, Muncie, Terre Haute, Indianapolis,
Richmond, Bloomington, Sellersburg, and Evansville
Date: TBD June 11-August 10
Teachers: 7th-12th grade Indiana science and technology teachers
Platform: Vex
Email: dward@ivytech.edu
Daniel Ward II
Ivy Tech Community College
Kokomo, IN
