On the first day of the BOCES M.A.S.T. Summer Camp in Lewis County, campers had no idea as to what their project would be for the next two weeks. Once they learned their task, it didn’t take long for the students to get to work and bring their creative ideas to the table.
“It was impressive to see,” said Sackett Center Math Instructor Geoffrey Buckingham, who served as a counselor for the camp, adding that many of the attending students worked extra hours at home that first night and came back the next day ready to go with their ideas.
The task was to reverse engineer a robot, including taking into account profitability, sustainability, and overall importance of their robot. They also had to create a model of the robot.
Four teams worked on that project at the camp, which ran from July 8-19 at the Lewis County Education Center in Lowville. The robot prototypes ran the gambit from a LEGO vacuum, an indoor drone, a bed-making robot, to an automatic fishing pole.
The camp also displayed just how technologically sound attending campers have become. Both Mr. Buckingham and fellow counselor, Walter Berwick, Sackett Center Engineering & Design Instructor, stated that students did not require a lesson on how to operate a 3D printer. A first for the camp.
Henry Kleine, a seventh grader from Lowville Academy, stated the benefits of the automatic bed maker developed by his group during their presentation to family members.
“It can be helpful for handicapped people who can’t make their bed.” The estimated price for this robot devised by the group was around $950.
The LEGO Vacuum could solve one of the age-old problems that has plagued many of us, stepping on a LEGO block on the floor.
“It is cordless and self-operated,” explained Gabriela Akissi, an eighth grader from Lowville Academy during her group’s presentation. “It is designed to be similar to a Roomba.” The estimated price tag was $200-$500.
The group known as the Ultimate Drone Company developed MAX, a drone for indoor use that could help with multiple tasks within a household. Part of this group was seventh grader Aubree Sauter of Lowville Academy, attending her third consecutive camp.
“Camp has been good in meeting lots of new people,” she says. “Some of the kids that I met last year from other schools, I continue to text with once camp is done and still talk to them.”
In her group was a first time camper, seventh grader Patrick Page from General Brown Central School, who enjoyed the experience. “I like it. It’s teaching me how to engineer and it’s been a fun experience meeting new people.”
The group known as the AI Athletes developed the Automatic Fishing Pole, giving those who enjoy the outdoor recreation a leg up near the water. Battery powered and containing motors, programming chips, and optics that allow users to get a better view of where the fish are. It is a steal for the price of $750.
Olivia Hoppell, of Lowville Academy’s seventh grade class, was part of the team and a first year camper. “I like to fish and some of my team members like to fish,” she explained as to where the idea came from.
Many of the kids who attended this year’s camp say they will be looking forward to coming back next year. It will be great to see what creative ideas they will bring to the table for next year’s project.
To view more pictures from the 2024 camp, click here.
