As part of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum’s commitment to fostering education and preparing students to serve as future leaders, the Patriots Point Institute of History and Science hosted a kickoff event for the FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO® League Robotics program.
FIRST® LEGO® League is a fun and educational robotics program that provides students with a foundation in STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – skills. Each year, teams of students ages 9 – 14 design their own solution to a current scientific question or problem and build autonomous LEGO robots that perform a series of missions. A Junior FIRST® LEGO® League is open to students ages 6 – 9.
Approximately 300 students, parents, business partners and mentors attended the event, which included a demonstration and Q & A about this exciting program with SC FIRST® LEGO® League Operational Partner Mary Graves. The State Head Referee and Judge were also on hand to assist with a scrimmage.
“We’re excited to host this innovative and exciting program here, at Patriots Point,” said Executive Director Mac Burdette. “When the USS Yorktown was in service, she incorporated state-of-the-art technologies to make her one of our nation’s most advanced warships. Although nearly 70 years have passed since her commissioning in 1943, it is fitting that we keep our eyes to the horizon and continue to focus on the latest technological advancements. The FIRST® LEGO® League will allow us to remain on the cutting edge while also providing Lowcountry youth with a solid foundation in STEM skills.”
- For more information about this program, visit www.usfirst.org and SC FLL’s website www.scrobotics.org