Seventeen energetic Lego enthusiasts participated in FIRST Lego League Robotics Summer Camp held recently at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

The two-day camp was sponsored by the Orangeburg County Clemson Extension Office and OCtech. Children between the ages of 9 and 14 spent two days building robots from Legos and then programming the robots to perform assigned challenges.

The camp was attended by students from Felton Laboratory, Guinyard Elementary, John Ford Middle School, Orangeburg Christian Academy and Orangeburg Prep. Home-schooled students also participated.

Leigh Joyner, lead agent in the Orangeburg County Clemson Extension Office and a camp coordinator, hopes this group of young people will evolve into a FIRST Lego League Team. FIRST Lego League Teams may be sponsored by schools, businesses or civic organizations.

FIRST Lego League was formed in 1998 as the result of a partnership between FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and The Lego Company. FIRST Lego League promotes itself as “Sports for the Mind.” In South Carolina, Lego teams compete in regional qualifying tournaments with winners advancing to the South Carolina Championship Tournament.

Campers used the NXT Generation Lego Mindstorms, consisting of Legos, sensors, motors and gears, to construct and program a robot capable of completing various missions.

Through camp activities, Joyner hopes the “young people will see that more can be accomplished by working together than can be accomplished by working individually. They will also learn that everybody has something to contribute – some like to sort pieces, some read the directions for their team and others prefer to program the robots. Regardless of their individual role, FIRST Lego League teaches that everyone’s contributions are important to the success of the team.”

Joyner was assisted by Andrew Singletary, a student at OCtech and the robotics coordinator for South Carolina’s 4-H program. Singletary attended the National 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology Conference and oversees robotics competitions through South Carolina’s 4-H program.

This camp follows an earlier session for adults involved in organizations interested in sponsoring a FIRST Lego League team.

“OCtech secured the funding and sponsored the camps in order to get more students interested in math, science and automation technology,” said Donna Elmore, associate vice president of education at OCtech. “To field a robot team is inexpensive, but it takes the commitment of interested adults to give their time to facilitate team activities.”

All it takes to get started is a school or organization commitment of time to coach the team and $630 for registration, which includes robots and software. OCtech and the Lower Savannah Education and Business Alliance members will help schools and organizations find sponsors or start teams.

For more information on becoming involved with the FIRST Lego League, contact Sernetta Quick at OCtech at 803-268-2543.

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