Hilo Youth Robotics 2007
June 13-16 - HYR Teacher Institute
June 18-29 - HYR session 1
July 2-13 - HYR session 2
The Hilo Youth Robotics (HYR) summer enrichment camp returned to the Connections Public Charter School during the summer of 2007. Back from Rensellaer Polytechnic Institute are instructors Melissa Hershey, who is joined by undergraduate students Erin Ruitenberg and Alex Brownell. Instructors
from Hawaii Island included Shawn Mishler, educators Kurt Jarrett (Connections Charter School) and Steve Wilhelm (Waters of Life Charter School), and student assistants Noa Flaherty and Aygei Marshall. This year we are running two Lego Mindstorms camps, with the first using RCX and the second using NXT platforms. Both camps are using Robolab 2.9.3 programming software on Windows computers.

Hilo Youth Robotics is a technology-based educational enrichment program operated by the AstroDay Institute in collaboration with Connections Public Charter School and the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, supported by Hawaii County Research and Development.
2007 Team (l-r): AJ Marshall, Noa Flaherty, Steve Wilhelm, Kurt Jarrett, Alex Brownell, Erin Ruitenberg, Shawn Mishler, Kenyan Beals
Session 2 Robot Olympics (Culminating Challenge) • July 13
Hawaii Tribune-Herald reporter Peter Sur interviewing Kamaaina Kids staff Was this the picture that appeared on the front page of the newspaper today? Music video by Honokaa HS student intern Roland Mitts 11.3 MB
Noa giving some last minute assistance Class photo
Third Place: Damien Aguiar, Dane Miyata Second Place: Ikaika Lywai, Justin Gebbie First Place: Josiah Clark, Christian Weber, Napahu Lilly
Session 2 • July 2-13, Lego Mindstorms NXT
The second session of Hilo Youth Robotics utilized the Lego Mindstorms NXT platform with students ages 9-13 (four of whom came from Kanu I Ka Pono Charter School in Kauai). The program also provided training to an educator from Waiakeawaena Elementary School and staff members from Kama'aina Kids day care organization and the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island.
Session 1 • June 18-29, Lego Mindstorms RCX
Students share their robot designs with each other after a free-build session Spinning a wheel attached to a motor generates electrical current that drives robot Elijah, Keanu and Dylan showing off their remote controlled tankbot with bumper
Brothers Naika and Nakoa enjoyed working on their robots together Student Assistant Agyei (right) and Timothy during a programming session Girls are just as good as boys at designing, building and programming robots
Logan and Ikaika working on their robot Connections math teacher Kurt Jarrett helps Hunter build while Joseph hacks the code Students programmed each robot to draw the individual letters of the phrase "Robots Rule"
Group photo of our first session students Erin Ruitenberg, Melissa Hershey and Alex Brownell, HYR instructors from RPI
Sidebar @ Kea'au Youth Business Center • June 18, 25, July 2, 9, 16
Dina Monberg, a Hilo Youth Robotics alumnus is running a summer robotics camp at the Kea'au Youth Business Center (KYBC). The workshop is one of several being offered, including digital video and digital photography. Kudos to our local team for extending robotics programs to other communities!
Teacher Institute • June 12-15, Lego Mindstorms RCX, NXT
Hilo Youth Robotics (HYR) started off the summer of 2007 with a Teacher Institute for twelve Connections Public Charter School and five returning HYR educators. The Connections teachers were given a crash course on robotics using the Lego Mindstorms RCX and NXT platforms and Robolab programming software. Additional in-depth instruction was also provided to the returning HYR teachers in sensor calibration and advanced programming concepts including nested loops, data logging and containers. All participants received excellent training from our instructors from Rensellaer Polytechnic Institute, and a Lego RCX, NXT resource CD.