MANITOULIN—The Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) Manitoulin Metal Robotics 6865 team members received nothing but high praise from parents and youngsters for the summer camp they held for grade 1-4 and grade 5-8 students from across Manitoulin and beyond August 6-9.
“I liked it because of all the technology, it was pretty fun programming and building parts for our robots,” stated eight-year-old Gabe Hillyard of Kagawong.
“On our breaks, we got to build stuff out of cardboard (the students had special challenges during breaks), and then we got to do obstacles with our robots,” said six-year-old Gil Hillyard.
Stephanie Hillyard said of her two sons taking the summer camp, “Gabe is an engineering type, he is always building something, and Gil is interested as well, but what they learned at the summer camp is fairly new to all of us. It was super cool for me to watch the final day of the camp and what they had learned. I learned too.”
“I was able to watch them program, code and build capacity for their robots,” said Ms. Hillyard. “It was so amazing to see what they learned and how all the students worked together and would help each other and you could see the determination in the kids to do something and fix any problems they were having with their robot.”
“It was great how the teams of two would work together as teams and with other teams in trouble shooting,” said Ms. Hillyard.
“I had three grandchildren in the summer camp! Nico Long 11, Lucie Long 8, and Odessa Long 6, two in the younger primary grade level and one in the afternoon session,” said Joan Cass. “It was great and wonderful for them and the other students to experience something like this. It was terrific, the Manitoulin Metal team leaders were terrific, and the kids responded so well to them. They made it fun.”
“My grandkids had some experience coding, and they all have experience in Lego building, and remote control form coding to identifying a problem, to solve programs. Work with team and fall, add on what do school,” said Ms. Cass. “They will be able to use what they learned at the summer camp in other aspects of their lives,” she said, noting that she lives at Stanley Park in Spring Bay in the summer and her grandchildren live with their parents in Spring Bay.
“Our students helped to inspire the next generation of science and technology students,” said Yana Bauer, a mentor with the MSS Robotics team. “One of the parents said their child is still talking about the summer camp and they can’t wait to get to MSS to be on the robotics team.
“Some of the kids had done Lego before,” said Ms. Bauer. From the response to the summer camp, “our team committed to run two age 6-10 First Canada Lego Robotics teams from September to December. We registered to start two teams (of students from around Manitoulin) while running the camp.”
“The summer camp was a huge success,” said Ms. Bauer. The camp was held in the M’Chigeeng First Nation complex with 20 students in each of the grade 1-5 and grade 5-8 programs.
“The entire program was run by members of our (MSS) robotics team and adult volunteers,” said Ms. Bauer. They included students Dylan Kuntsi, Ryan Kuntsi, Jacob Jones, Xavi Mara, Xander Thompson, Nevaeh Harper, Samuel Pennings, Alex Wilson-Zegil, Amara Wilson-Zegil, Robyn Ashley, Ruben Scholman, Tanner Leblanc and volunteers Barbara Pennings, Drew Thompson, Caroline Black and Yana Bauer.
This was the first time Manitoulin Metal had held a summer camp, although in the past workshops had been held. “The students decided the workshops were not enough for the younger students to immerse themselves in the robotics program, so they decided to hold a four- day camp.”
“The students fabricated, programmed and strategized, learning the aspects of robotics and teamwork,” said Ms. Bauer. “We even had a competition day on the last day of the camp, with parents and grandparents having the opportunity to see what the students had accomplished.”
“Enrolment in the summer camp was full, even before we advertised it on social media,” stated Ms. Bauer. “We had a waiting list.” Students registering made donations toward being part of the summer camp. “Our kids felt it was important that we not have any type of barriers for families that wanted their children to take part in the summer camp.” All the monies MSS received in donations went towards rental of room space in the community centre.
“First Canada had provided us with robotics kits and computers so we could accommodate everyone,” continued Ms. Bauer.
The program was planned by the MSS student leaders with Ryan Kuntsi planning for lessons. “And all our kids had to take time away from their summer jobs,” said Ms. Bauer.
“Our team leaders were amazed at what and how quickly the young students learned things during the summer camp, and how skilled they became,” said Ms. Bauer.
“Robotics is hard, but kids are not afraid of it. They may fail at first but then they work and figure things out and celebrate like they had just won the Olympics because they get the robot to do something they couldn’t get it to do five minutes earlier. It is amazing to watch,” continued Ms. Bauer. She explained a ‘Masterpiece Challenge was presented to the grade 1-4 students, with a ‘Go For the Gold’ Challenge for the grade 5-8 students. “Parents were blown away by what the students accomplished,” she said.
