Learn how to build and program LEGO robots!

Girls Connect takes place March 9th in Holyoke and April 6th in Amherst. Pre-registration required. Girls ages 8-13 are invited to attend in teams of 5 to be part of the Western MA Girls Connect event. This cool all-girl introduction to FIRST LEGO League matches you up with coaches and professional engineers to learn how to build and program LEGO robots to do real-world tasks.

The idea of robots can seem like very sophisticated machines, created by highly trained robotics specialists.  However, robotic machines don’t have to be very complex – and even kids can learn to make them!

There are two opportunities coming up in the Pioneer Valley for youth to experiment with LEGO robotics. The FIRST LEGO League is offering two introductory workshops just for girls to learn about participating in the FIRST LEGO robotics competitions.  Called Girls Connect, the workshops are open to girls ages 8-13 living in Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin counties.  The workshops will match teams of girls (5 per team) up with coaches, professional engineers and computer scientists in order to tackle the challenges presented.  Teams will use a variety of LEGO parts to program their robots to complete everyday tasks, similar to the challenges presented in regular FIRST LEGO League competitions.  The workshops will end with a friendly competition, and awards will be given to teams based on their finished products and their hard work in creating them.

Participation in the workshop can help girls learn about FIRST LEGO League and ways to apply basic principles of math, science, and engineering.  Participation in engineering activities can be empowering for girls, and can help them learn how useful the scientific and mathematical ideas that they learn in school can be.

The workshops will take place on Saturday, March 9th at the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center in Holyoke, and on Saturday, April 6th at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Karen Sullivan writes, “Teams may attend either date, but not both. In order to receive registration materials, one adult member (teacher, parent, Girl Scout troop leader, afterschool program staff) of your team must join one of the following brief informational conference calls on Wednesday, February 27th at 7:30pm or Thursday, February 28th at 3:00pm (April 6th event only). Join the call by dialing 1-218-339-2699 Access Code 354432. Note, this is not a toll-free number; long-distance charges apply.”

To apply or receive more information, please go here.