What does the Lego Robotics Summer Camp in Naperville offer. How does it benefit children’s STEM skills. Can returning students expect new challenges. What is the camp format and daily schedule.
Lego Robotics Camp: Hands-On STEM Learning in Naperville
The Naperville Park District, in collaboration with Play-Well TEKnologies, offers an exciting Lego Robotics Summer Camp for kids. This program provides a unique opportunity for children to engage in hands-on STEM learning while having fun with Lego bricks.
Camp Details
- Date: March 25th, 2016
- Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Location: 320 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville, IL 60540
- Registration: Call 630-848-5000
During this camp, participants will build and program robots using the Lego Mindstorms NXT system. They’ll learn about mechanical and software design, loops, conditional statements, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Working in small groups, children will program and build robots to overcome challenges such as avoiding obstacles, picking up and carrying objects, and playing sounds.
Goals and Benefits of the Lego Robotics Summer Camp
The Lego Robotics Summer Camp aims to provide a comprehensive STEM learning experience for children. But what specific goals does the camp set out to achieve?
- Develop and enhance problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Introduce engineering and architectural concepts and vocabulary
- Teach new building techniques
- Provide an engaging experience with a versatile building system
By participating in this camp, children gain valuable skills that can benefit them in various academic and real-world scenarios. The hands-on nature of the activities helps reinforce learning and encourages creativity and innovation.
Camp Format and Daily Activities
Understanding the camp’s structure can help parents and children prepare for the experience. How is a typical day at the Lego Robotics Summer Camp organized?
The camp typically focuses on two different engineering and architectural projects per day. Each project begins with an introduction and short presentation by the instructor, followed by a design and building assignment. Students have access to tens of thousands of Lego parts to create their engineering projects.
Throughout the camp, instructors introduce engineering terminology that students are encouraged to use when identifying pieces, asking questions, or helping each other. The instructors circulate among the students, offering guidance and assistance in achieving project goals.
Project Exploration and Development
Once students meet the basic requirements of a project, they’re encouraged to further explore engineering applications. This exploration involves:
- Inspecting their creations
- Testing the functionality
- Modifying designs
- Rebuilding for improved performance
At the end of each session, students dismantle their projects and put away materials, reinforcing responsibility and organization skills.
Challenges for Returning Students
Parents of children who have previously attended Play-Well TEKnologies camps or classes might wonder if the experience will be repetitive. How does the camp cater to returning students?
The curriculum is constantly evolving, with projects rotated seasonally to ensure a fresh experience in every camp or class. While some fundamental projects or concepts may be revisited, instructors offer advanced challenges and modifications to push even the most experienced Lego engineers to the next level.
The flexible curriculum adjusts to students’ interests and experience levels, allowing instructors to continually challenge advanced students and help them reach their full potential. Students are encouraged to communicate when they desire new challenges that match their building skill level, ensuring that no student is left bored or unchallenged.
Safety and Sign-In Procedures
Parents naturally prioritize their children’s safety during any activity. What measures are in place to ensure children’s safety at the Lego Robotics Summer Camp?
The camp requires parents or guardians to sign their children in and out each day. Instructors remain in the classroom with the children until a parent or guardian arrives to pick them up and sign them out. This procedure not only ensures children’s safety but also provides an opportunity for instructors to get to know families and communicate about the day’s activities.
Documenting Projects and Progress
As children create impressive Lego structures and robots, parents may want to capture these achievements. How can parents document their child’s projects during the camp?
While Play-Well doesn’t provide official photographs of projects, they encourage parents to come 30 minutes before the end of class to see their child’s specific project. If early arrival isn’t possible, parents can provide their child with a device to take pictures at appropriate times during the camp. However, Play-Well is not responsible for any lost or broken devices.
Snacks and Allergy Considerations
With the camp running for three hours, parents might wonder about snack arrangements. What’s the policy on snacks during the Lego Robotics Summer Camp?
The camp includes one break midway through the session. While Play-Well doesn’t provide snacks, they encourage parents to pack a peanut-free snack for their child. For parents of children with peanut allergies, it’s important to note that Play-Well cannot guarantee that Lego pieces in their kits are completely free from peanut residue.
This consideration for allergies demonstrates the camp’s commitment to creating a safe environment for all participants while allowing children to refuel during their engaging Lego engineering activities.
Play-Well TEKnologies – Naperville Park District Robotics using the LEGO NXT System Summer Camp (March 25th – March 25th, 2016 1:00pm
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Build and program robots using the LEGO Mindstorms NXT system! Learn about mechanical and software design, loops, conditional statements, problem solving, and teamwork skills. Work in small groups, program and build your robot, and rise to the challenge. Control the robot to avoid obstacles, pick up and carry objects, and play sounds. Projects are structured so that students work in an open-ended, investigative environment while having fun.
March 25th – March 25th, 2016
| Day(s) | Fri |
| Time | 1:00pm – 4:00pm |
Naperville Park District map
| Location | 320 W. Jackson Ave. Naperville, IL 60540 |
Register
| Phone | 630-848-5000 |
Play-Well Summer Camp FAQ
SUMMER CAMP GOALS
What are the goals of the summer camps?
- Develop and enhance students’ problem solving and critical thinking skills
- Introduce children to concepts and vocabulary of Engineering and Architecture as well as new building techniques
- Provide an opportunity to have an awesome time with a terrific and versatile building system!
SUMMER CAMP FORMAT
What is the format of a Play-Well TEKnologies Engineering summer camp?
We typically work on 2 different engineering and architectural projects per day. Projects typically start with an introduction and short presentation by the instructor followed by a design/building assignment. Students have access to tens of thousands of LEGO® parts to use in creating their engineering projects.
Students are introduced to engineering terminology that they are encouraged to use throughout the class when identifying pieces, posing questions, or assisting each other. Instructors circulate and assist the children in realizing their project goals.
When the participants have satisfied basic requirements of a project, they are encouraged to further explore engineering applications of the principles and construction methods by inspecting, testing, modifying, and rebuilding. At the end of each class session, students are expected to dismantle their projects and put away their materials.
Will the students take anything home with them at the conclusion of the summer camp?
Unfortunately, participants don’t get to take any of the LEGO® materials home with them.
Rather, the focus is on gaining the understanding of what makes each project work and the building techniques to bring those creations to life.
RETURNING STUDENTS
Will Play-Well TEKnologies Engineering summer camps be a repeat for my child if they have already attended previous Play-Well summer camps and/or enrichment classes?
Our curriculums are ever evolving, and projects are also rotated seasonally to ensure that every experience, whether in camp or class, is a new one! While there are some fundamental projects or concepts that may be revisited in summer camps, our instructors offer advanced challenges and modifications for any model that will push even the most experienced LEGO® engineers to the next level. Our curriculum is flexible and adjusts to the interests and experience level of the students, and our instructors look forward to continually challenging the most advanced students to reach their full potential. We also encourage our students to communicate when they desire a new challenge that meets their building skill level.
Our responsibility as instructors is to never leave any student bored or unchallenged!
SIGN IN / OUT
Do I need to sign my child in and out?
We do ask that you sign your child in and out each day of the summer camp. To ensure the children’s safety, our instructors stay in the classroom with the child until a parent/guardian is there to pick them up and sign them out. This also gives us the opportunity to get to know your family and touch base before or after class.
PROJECT PICTURES
Can we get pictures of our child’s final projects?
We encourage parents/guardians to come 30 minutes before the end of class if you would like to see your student’s specific project. If you cannot come early, we suggest giving your child a device with which to take pictures at an appropriate time during camp. Play-Well is not responsible for any lost/broken devices.
PURCHASING LEGO®
Can we purchase the LEGO®® parts used in summer camps?
Unfortunately, we do not sell the LEGO® parts used in our summer camps and classes.
We encourage parents to visit the Materials page on our website to learn more about some of the parts we use in our programs and where to find them for purchase.
SNACK?
Should my child bring a snack to summer camp?
We will take one break midway through class. We do not provide snack but encourage parents to provide a peanut-free snack for their child. For parents of children allergic to peanuts, we cannot guarantee that LEGO® pieces in our kits are completely free of peanut oils.
OUTDOOR BREAKS
Do the kids go outside at all during summer camp?
Depending on the weather, we may take the group outside for our brief snack break, but otherwise our focus remains on making the most of our time with the LEGO®!
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FIRST LEGO LEAGUE
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2-2.0
VEX ROBOTICS
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HAND ON SCIENCE
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Curriculum’s based on enhancing problem solving skills and hands on project based learning to impart in depth understanding.
