Parks and Recreation Youth Robotics Programs Begin September 15

Published on September 12, 2024

The Parks and Recreation Department today announced registration is now open for two robotics programs held this fall at the Irving Recreation Center, 2010 Van Dorn Street. The programs for youth ages 6 through 9 and 10 through 15 begin September 15 and introduce science, technology, engineering, and math concepts through fun, exciting hands-on learning.

The fee for the programs is $120 per session. Register by September 22 at lincoln.ne.gov/CivicRec. The schedules are as follows:

• Junior Robotics – Sundays from 2:30 to 4 p.m., September 15 through October 20 and January 26 through March 2: The Junior First Lego League is for children ages 6 through 9 and is designed to capture young children’s curiosity and direct it toward discovering the possibilities of improving the world around them. Participants will research a topic, create a poster presenting that research, build a Lego model with at least one motorized part that addresses the topic researched, and present what they have learned to a reviewer in a non-competitive, fun, high energy environment. Fee includes instruction and t-shirt.

• Gear Tech 21 / Robotics – Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m., September 18 through October: In this new class, students ages 10 through 15 will learn to build and program robots using Lego Mindstorms components and applications. Students will learn the principles of robot construction including symmetry, weight distribution, gearing and more as well as the principles of robot programming in Mindstorms software, including basic commands, the use of sensors, and math formulas to calculate distance traveled in one wheel rotation and turning radius.

This new robotics program format at Irving Recreation center will not compete in the First Lego League. However, it will be using the current season league robot game mats and missions for practice and competitions. After several weeks of gaining these skill sets and practice, each team of robot builders will compete in head-to-head matches against opponents in a race to score points on robot game tables.

For more information, contact the Irving Recreation Center a 402-441-7954. For more information about Lincoln Parks and Recreation, visit lincoln.ne.gov/parks.