Robotics camp held at Clearbrook-Gonvick

Summer is on with many different activites at the Clearbrook-Gonvick School. One of the first events was the Pioneer Robotics. The instructor was Andrew Dahlen, VEX Robotics Coordinator and Electronics instructor at Northland Community & Technical College in Thief River Falls. 

The class was open to students in grades 5th through 8th. There were 23 from Clearbrook -Gonvick and Fosston School Districts that took part in the event.

Team Foundation provided a grant for over 80% of the cost so students paid only $25 for the 2 day camp (8 hours per day). 

The first day was building and programming of robots for competition. Students learned about autonomous programming techniques for the Lego EV3 robots. The purpose of the program is to get the students to have an interest in manufacturing as a future career.

The second day they had to put together their robot with the plans that they had created in groups of two. After that they had the competition for the best built robot. They used a circular platform to see which robot could push the other off of the area.

 All equipment was provided with EV3 Robot Kits, Laptops and software, 2016-2017 Animal Allies Competition field and mission models. 

As an instructor at Northland Community & Technical College, Dahlen has led the Northland Robotics team, XNOR, to the Amaze Award at the Vex World Championship Tournament. They were the first team in Minnesota to win an award at the World Championship level. 

Dahlen works with youth at area schools to create awareness about robotics and STEM related careers and fields of study. Dahlen is an alum of Northland Community & Technical College and Bemidji State University.