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🤖 ¾­µä´ó¹Ï successfully hosted three LEGO camps for 1st- through 6th-grade students this summer. Organized by ¾­µä´ó¹Ï Educational Partnerships & Outreach (EPO), these camps provided an exciting opportunity for kids to explore the world of robotics and engineering. At LEGO Camp, students used LEGO Education Spike kits to create and code through different units, learning to use robotics to solve real-world problems or invent exciting creations. As they built, they learned engineering principles, developed creativity, collaborated with partners, and embraced the idea of creating without fear of mistakes. The camps were led by Kacie Palmer and Julie Cleland, teachers from Henley Elementary School. Kacie has been a dedicated instructor for our LEGO camps for several years, and this was Julie’s first year. Shea Fincher and Theo Rourke, student workers at ¾­µä´ó¹Ï, provided support throughout the camps, and Professor Stefan Andrei made a guest appearance, sharing his expertise with the students. This year, about 130 students participated in the regular LEGO camps, and 90 students from Tiny Mighty Strong also enjoyed LEGO programming. Thanks to the OCF Joseph E. Weston Public Foundation's generosity, these camps were free for all students. ¾­µä´ó¹Ï has been offering LEGO programming since 2016, and it continues to be a highlight for everyone involved. As Associate Director of EPO Mary-Jane Owen shared, her favorite part is watching the transformation of students over the week: "On day one, the quiet classroom of students begins...many students who have no prior experience with LEGOs or programming hesitantly following the lesson, side-eyeing their partner who they have never met. By day five, the room is loud, there are LEGOs EVERYWHERE, and students are perfecting a robot that they created and programmed to do various actions while others crowd around offering advice or encouragement." Thank you to everyone who helped make these camps a success! 🚀 #OregonTech #LEGOCamp #STEMEducation #Robotics #LearningThroughPlay