Engineering AND Robotics Summer Camps at HCC in Brandon

TAMPA, Fla. - April 11, 2013 - PRLog -- Florida Advanced Technological Education (FLATE) Center, the National Science Foundation Center of Excellence for high-tech manufacturing is partnering with Hillsborough Community College (HCC), the School District of Hillsborough County and local manufacturers to offer several robotics camps this summer. The camps will be held in the student services building at HCC’s Brandon campus, and are designed to enhance campers’ skills needed to succeed in manufacturing, robotics and other STEM-related careers. Cost for each, week-long camp is $150.

Schedule and list of camp offerings include:

June 17- 21:    Introductory Robotics Camp for Middle School GIRLS ONLY!
June 24-28:    Introductory Robotics Camp for ALL Middle School students
July 8-12:       Introductory Robotics Camp for ALL Middle School students
July 15-19:     Intermediate Robotics & Engineering Camp (A) for middle school students
July 22-26:     Intermediate Robotics & Engineering Camp (B) for middle school students
July 29-Aug.2:  Robotics & Engineering Camp for ALL High School students

Each camp offers students different level of challenges. During the introductory camp students will learn how to reconfigure LEGO MINDSTORMS robots and program them to follow specific commands. The intermediate camps offer students an opportunity to design, build   and program a robot. Campers will learn how to operate a 3D printer and learn about design techniques utilizing CAD. The high school engineering camp provides students an opportunity to write programs to operate the NAO humanoid robot. Students will use Arduino Uno Microproccessors to build digital design systems, and solve advanced robotic challenges.

Curriculum for all the camps comprises of a mixture of Lego educational materials that are integrated with Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) subjects and modern manufacturing, and are conducted in a competitive problem solving environment. Campers will tour various local high-tech manufacturing facilities, and develop increased problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, teamwork, and communications strategies. To register for the camps visit www.fl-ate.org/projects/camps.html, and www.madeinflorida.org. You can also contact Desh Bagley at camps@fl-ate.org.

FLATE is a National Science Foundation Regional Center of Excellence, committed to ensuring Florida has a well prepared workforce for advanced and emerging technologies. Created in 2004, FLATE is one of 46 Advanced Technological Education Centers in the United States funded by the National Science Foundation focused on improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and training to meet the needs of American advanced technology industries. For more information visit www.fl-ate.org.

Hillsborough Community College serves more than 48,000 students annually on five campuses and three centers throughout Hillsborough County. HCC is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information visit www.hccfl.edu.