With 108 teams and more than 1,400 high school teens participating, the energy in that hall was wildly insane, colorful and inspiring as the six-weeks of hard core conceptualizing, engineering, testing, tweaking and testing again culminated in hour after hour of bots rolling in the field trying to win challenges against each other.

There were many things that stood out in my mind — the importance and reinforcement of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) principles; the strength of teamwork; the benefit of working to not only win yourself, but help others succeed; and just the complete and utter fun of it all.

It was almost perfect. What would have absolutely completed the picture was if I had seen more GIRLS.

The stats at the show seemed to reinforce recent research studies. Girls aren’t any more interested in STEM careers than they were 10 or 20 years ago and less than 20 percent of employees working in science and engineering are women. However, this is totally unrelated to the skills women have in math, science and engineering, as reported in “Why So Few,” a study by the American Association of University Women. And it’s seemingly unrelated to pay potential, as well. The study showed that women in STEM fields earn more money than women in other industries (but still not as much as men).

So what are we going to do about this? Robotics teams are certainly one dynamic way to introduce girls to just how exciting and rewarding STEM careers can be. I have to give credit to the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas who entered teams in both the small-bot and large-bot competitions last week. And to Team Plaid, an all girl team from Houston, and Team Lambot from Mexico.

As I’ve learned in the last few weeks, science fair is also a rewarding way to engage girls, especially when scholarships and cash awards are at stake.

But most important, I believe, are the messages we give girls. We need to tell them they are good at math and science and that they can become even better with study and experience. We need to encourage them in their efforts and nurture them into leaders. We need to connect STEM into real-life experiences so girls can see the relationship between the skills they learn in school and the real world outside those four walls. And we need to introduce them to female role models. Unfortunately, the role models they see on TV and in the movies are none to helpful in encouraging exercise of the muscle between their two ears. But we can find role models in our own backyard – teaching, working, researching. We can also find them in (very carefully) selected movies. Contact, starring Jodie Foster, comes to mind.

This is not rocket science. It’s easy, and it’s critical.

As Team Plaid’s giveaway buttons read: “I wish I BUILT like a girl.” Rock on, ladies!

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UTSA has started taking applications for its iTec Robotics summer camp.

New for this year is a program for high school students. Also new is the $70 fee per student. Last year, the program was free. Still, at under $100 for two weeks, daily free breakfast and lunch and an amazing robotic experience, it’s well worth every penny. I blogged about the camp last year here and here.

One of the elements I loved about this camp is that the kids are divided into groups of four with a mentor…so everybody has a chance to share their two cents worth in building the robots. Teamwork is emphasized, but at the end of the day, it’s the competition that captures everyone’s attention. I never had so much fun watching Legos with wheels try to push each other off a table.

You can easily register online at itec.utsa.edu. But be prepared. Your child will need to type in a short essay on why he or she wants to be in the camp. The second hardest part: making sure you’ve got them signed up for the right one! There are five options this year:

• June 14 – 25: grades 3 – 6 using NXT platform
• June 28 – July 10: grades 8 – 11 using the VEX Robotics System
• June 28-July 9: grades 6-8 using the NXT platform
• July 12 – 23: grades 6-8 using the NXT platform
• July 12 – 23: grades3-6 using NXT platform

All camps run 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with no early or late stay available.

And a WORD OF WARNING: If your child is accepted into the camp – do not park where you are not authorized to park and pay before you walk away to drop off or pick up your child. Those campus police are tough cookies and won’t hesitate to ticket you.

If you’ve got a future engineer on your hands, this is the camp to attend. Extremely well-run. And great fun for the kids.

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It is just as it sounds. Two robots heading towards each other on a table to see which can push the other off. Some robots moved slowly. Some not at all. One turned in a circle. Several just got locked up. The creativity of the teams was unlimited. Some looked like shovels, some like cars and still others like bulldozers. I could have watched all day.

Photo courtesy of Northwest Vista College

On the winning team was a girl. One of only a handful that participated in the camp. I had to wonder…why aren’t more girls involved? As if by magic, later that afternoon, I got word from Northwest Vista College about an upcoming girls-only robotics camp. With space for 24 girls, the camp breaks them up into teams of four and sets them loose on building Tetrix robots and competing in various challenges.

And check this out: It’s free. Didn’t think you could find a last minute camp this summer? No problem. According to college spokesperson Melissa Monroe-Young, there are still ten spots left. Sign up now!

The 411

• Campers: Girls ages 14 to 18
• Dates: August 3 to August 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Location: Northwest Vista College, 3535 N. Ellison Dr.
• Cost: Doesn’t get any cheaper than free.
• Register here

SpaceTEAMS @ Northwest Vista

Don’t have a daughter that age? No problem. Northwest Vista has two other camps with openings:

July 20 -31: Robot camp for elementary students – Tuition $225. Using Lego Mindstorm
July 20-31: Robot camp for middle school students – Tuition $250. Using VEX Robotics

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• iTEC Summer Robotics Camp @ UTSA
• Session One: 3rd to 6th graders, June 15 – June 26
• Session Two: 6th to 8th graders, June 29 – July 10
• Extra info: geared for at risk and learning-challenged kids, but all are welcome
• Cost:  Free + $25 registration fee
• Register:  http://budurl.com/itec

THE STORY

I love meeting true characters. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting the real thing at the NEISD Elementary School Robotics Club Challenge.  His name is Moses Thompson.  Moses is the program manager for the Interactive Technology Experience Center at UTSA.  He’s a walking miracle, having gone through surgery that left him in a wheelchair for three years, with a disease that is slowly destroying his nerve system.  But it’s not touching his enthusiasm for his new program – the iTEC summer robotics camp for kids.

He regaled me with stories of being fascinated with rockets as a child.  He figured out how to make his own explosives, but managed to set his room on fire *only* once.  I desperately want to talk to his mom.  She must have had nerves of steel.

As his eyes sparkled with excitement, he told me all about the computers and equipment he’s purchasing for the iTEC camp. “I’m up to my eyeballs in Lego® Mindstorms NXT robotics,” he said.

He told me about working with Title 1 schools and trying to get parents involved in the process.  He wants to create a program that is not only enriching for the kids, but enriching for the family, as well.  “Parents can help with lunch or breakfast, help mentor or provide encouragement to the all the kids,” he told me.  “I don’t want it to sound like we don’t have structure, because we do. But we want it to be a time of fun, discovery and learning with no pressure.”

The camp is divided into two sections – third through sixth and sixth through eighth.  Session one is for the younger ones and runs June 15-26. Session two for the older ones is slotted for June 29 through July 10. And Moses is thinking about adding a second, overflow session later in the summer.  Best part – it’s free.  Yep – you heard it right. Free, thanks to some very generous donors.  There is a $25 registration fee, but that is waived for parents who volunteer.  Got a little scientist on your hands who likes to tinker?

What are you waiting for?  Register here:  http://budurl.com/itec

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