Henderson State University plans high school robotics camp

ARKADELPHIA — Henderson State University’s Department of Engineering and Physics will host its first “Reddie for Robotics” camp before the fall semester to engage high school students interested in robotics and programming.

Shannon Clardy, associate professor of physics, said no previous experience is necessary to attend. The camp is open to students entering grades 9-12 to encourage interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“We wanted to hold this camp to encourage interest in STEM among kids in our local community and, more specif-

ically, in robotics and programming,” Clardy said. “The fields of robotics and programming are increasingly important to industry and future careers, and it is always exciting to see a robot that you created complete a task.

“The students will learn program planning, basic coding skills and introductory robotics using microprocessor kits, in addition to learning skills like soldering and system design. We want to teach skills, engage our local youth, excite interest in STEM and show off our department and its people.”

Registration is available online at https://goo.gl/forms/jHhPnhhLxWYKSkfP2. The cost of tuition is $100 for the four-day camp from Aug. 7-10.

“That does not cover the cost of camp,” Clardy said. “What it does is allow us to send each participant home with a robotics kit when the camp is over so they can continue to explore programming and robotics. We do have half-tuition scholarships available and they are need-based.”

The camp will incorporate daily challenges and an overall team challenge. Lunch will be provided each day as students will be on Henderson’s campus in the Donald W. Reynolds Science Center from 8:30 a.m. to

3 p.m.

Enrollment will remain open until the camp is full or until Aug.

4. Clardy said the department is hoping for about 25-30 students and enrollment is already a quarter-full.

Physics professor Rick McDaniel, chairman of the Department of Engineering and Physics, and Dever Norman, assistant professor of physics, will be the teachers. Clardy is the camp administrator.

The camp was made possible by funds from the Ross Foundation’s philanthropic grants program. Henderson learned the grant application was approved in March. Clardy said the university is “incredibly grateful” the foundation found merit in the project.

Each day will begin with a logic challenge students will perform in groups. Their morning challenge will lead into a session about Arduinos and Arduino programming. Arduinos are a type of microprocessor with a variety of uses.

A session about robot fabrication skills will allow participants to safely work with tools. They will develop and practice fabrication skills, such as soldering, 3-D printing and 3-D design.

“Here, they will learn things like the engineering design process and how to take a project from idea to finished product, in addition to learning skills they will need to fabricate their robots,” Clardy said.

Students will work on an overall challenge in the afternoon after lunch. They will take part in a robotics challenge across all four days of the camp in teams.

“This challenge will encourage students to use the skills they are learning in the morning sessions with their own creativity and ingenuity to accomplish the task,” Clardy said. “They will design and build a robot to complete a specific task, like navigating a maze or kicking a ball into a goal.”

Clardy said the department has never held such a camp for high school-aged students.

“I am excited about this camp because I love to work with youth in our community,” Clardy said. “I love that moment when kids of any age realize they can accomplish big things — when dreams are so much more attainable.

“It is an incredibly fulfilling moment. We love to share our excitement about science with other people and kids are usually a very receptive audience.”

Clardy is collaborating with other professors and the STEM Center on campus to run the “Reddie, Set, Design” camp for students entering grades 7-9. Registration has closed for the free camp, which will be held in the Reynolds building later this month.