Robotics Camps at HCC Brandon Sets Local Students on a Path of Innovation

TAMPA, Fla. - June 12, 2015 - PRLog -- Tampa-based, Florida Advanced Technological Education Center, (FLATE) is hosting several high-tech robotics camps for middle and high school-aged students this summer. For campers like MacKenzie Evans, who attended FLATE’s robotics camp last year the camp promises to be another exciting learning experience…one that has already set her on an exciting path of innovation.

Evans, who is returning to attend the intermediate camp this year, worked with Desh Bagley, FLATE’s outreach manager and camp director, throughout this past year on a class-related science project to come up with a new invention to help save electricity and reduce global warming. Inspired by her exposure to robotics and powered by her knowledge about sensors that she learned to program during last year’s intro camp at FLATE, Evans designed a system to turn the light on, or off in a room. Evans programmed the sensor to simulate a system in which lights turned off due to lack of carbon dioxide in the air instead of motion.

Given the hands-on component of the camps and in an ongoing effort to inspire students  like MacKenzie to engage them in fun and educational activities that are geared to promote interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, FLATE, the National Science Foundation Regional Center of Excellence will host several high-tech robotics camps at the Brandon Campus of Hillsborough Community College.

WHAT:          LEGO^® Mindstorms® EV3 Summer Robotics Camps

WHERE:          Hillsborough Community College-Brandon

When:

June 15- 19:     Introductory EV3 Robotics Camp for Middle School GIRLS ONLY!

June 22-26:      Introductory EV3 Robotics Camp for ALL Middle School students

July 6-10:         Introductory EV3 Robotics Camp II for ALL Middle School students

July 13-17:       Intermediate EV3 Robotics Camp (A) for middle school students

July 20-24:       Intermediate EV3 Robotics Camp (B) for middle school students

July 27- 31:      Engineering Technology Camp for High School students

Cost for each, week-long camp is $175.

Additionally, FLATE is partnering with Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, to offer scholarships to several girls from low income families to attend the ‘All Girls camp’ from June 15-19. For more information on the camps and scholarships visit www.fl-ate.org/projects/camps.html  and www.madeinflorida.org, or contact Camp Manager, Desh Bagley atcamps@fl-ate.org  and Executive Director of FLATE, Dr. Marilyn Barger at barger@fl-ate.org, for more information.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Marilyn Barger, executive director of FLATE, Desh Bagley, camp manager including students attending the camp will be available for interviews. Opportunity for photo and video coverage will also be available.