LKSD Robotics teams go Into Orbit

by K.J. Lincoln

Robotics teams from the Lower Kuskokwim School District broke out of their earthly constraints with this year’s First Lego League Robotics Challenge: Into Orbit.

10 teams accepted the challenge and joined in the Southwest Region Robotics qualifier last week at the Gladys Jung Elementary School. Teams from Bethel Regional High School, Gladys Jung Elementary, Ayaprun Elitnaurvik, Tuntutuliak, Napakiak, Tununak, Newtok, and Napaskiak participated during the exciting robot rendezvous.

Two schools, however unfortunately, were weathered out – Newtok and Tununak, but they still participated via video conferencing.

“We had a great weekend with typical ups and downs of winter time travel in the Delta,” wrote Colin Stewart. “10 teams in total competed, 5 Bethel based, 5 village teams. 2 of which competed on VTC due to weather holding them back at home.”

Stewart works at the College Career Ready Department for the Lower Kuskokwim School District and coordinated the Southwest robot rendezvous qualifier.

The challenge has three parts: the robot game with missions on a playing field (which is opened to the public), the Project based on the challenge – team will be transported into orbit where they will explore, challenge, and innovate in the vast expanse of space, and Core Values.

“FIRST LEGO League challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers. During the INTO ORBIT season, teams will choose and solve a real-world problem in the Project. They will also build, test, and program an autonomous robot using Lego Mindstorms technology to solve a set of missions in the Robot Game. Throughout their experience, teams will operate under the FIRST signature set of Core Values, celebrating discovery, teamwork, and Gracious Professionalism,” wrote FLL about this year’s challenge.

FLL designs their Challenges around topics that will expose participants to potential career paths within a chosen Challenge topic, and also to strengthen their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) principles that come with the robotics program.

This is the 30th season of First Lego League’s robotics program. The winners from the Southwest competition are two Bethel teams: the C.R.A.N.E.S. representing Gladys Jung and coached by Nicole Smith, and the Breakfast Club, also of Gladys Jung Elementary coached by Erin Arno.

These two teams will be traveling to the state competition in Anchorage for the First Lego League Invitational Championship, January 19, 2019.