Discovering a Passion for STEM!

The annual Discovery Day hosted at Robbinsville High School by FRC team Nemesis 2590 was  a grand success as students in our community were introduced to the fascinating world of FIRST. On December 3rd and 4th, the campers completed a plethora of age-appropriate STEM challenges, meant to offer a stimulating, but fun, experience for the students.

This year there were two challenges: one targeted towards younger students (grades 2-4) and one for the older kids (grades 5-6). The first challenge was to build machines that would successfully launch paper airplanes, engaging the students in a fierce and fun competition with each other to see which airplane design would go the farthest! Through this activity, these students were taught basic principles of aerodynamics while having a great time. Meanwhile, older students were tested through a variety of challenges involving the use of NXT robots that engaged in sumo wrestling matches. This prompted them to think outside the box, using only their creativity and tenacity to build unique designs that would work effectively in battle.

Campers also had the opportunity to drive Nemesis’s 2023 competition robot, Jynx, after briefly learning about the driver’s joysticks and controls from team volunteers. The excitement on the young student’s faces was apparent as they guided the robot to place cones on various rungs, making us certain that the future of FIRST is bright!

 Local FLL teams, IDK, Minds of Steel, and Brains of Talent, set up FLL competition tables from the Masterpiece challenge to demonstrate robotics that fit their skill level, ensuring that students could begin or even continue their FIRST journey. At these FLL demonstrations, local team coaches and members motivated campers to try joining or beginning a team of their own! 

In the end, all the students had an amazing time meeting with our team, learning more about STEM principles, and competing against each other in a collaborative environment. It was a delightful experience to see all of them leaving with smiles on their faces, and a newfound passion for robotics and STEM!