NORFOLK, Neb.—The Norfolk Public Library and Northeast Community College's iHub are collaborating to host their annual Lego Robotics Camp, offering a blend of fun and skill development. Participants engage in hands-on activities, constructing and programming robots to foster problem-solving abilities applicable in real-world scenarios.

Whitney Porn, Youth Services Supervisor at Norfolk Public Library, emphasizes the camp's role in promoting digital literacy. "It's a creative and safe environment to experiment with digital literacy," Porn stated. "Kids learn they can instruct a robot, make mistakes, and then troubleshoot their way out of a problem." The camp provides a structured learning path, starting with the fundamentals of how robots use sensors and programming to process information and move.

Henry Goeden, Robotics Trainer at Northeast Community College iHub, outlines the camp's progression. "We move into driving the robots to make different shapes and designs, and print things on the screen," Goeden explained. "By day three, they program sensors, enabling the robot to navigate using distance and color sensors, making decisions based on their written programs."

Instructors highlight that the skills acquired extend beyond robotics, preparing students for future opportunities and everyday life. Goeden noted that these skills are relevant to smart homes and real-world robots like Roomba vacuum cleaners, inspiring further learning in programming and robotics.

Porn added, "Every single one of those kids in there today is making a mistake, but the bigger thing to take away is that they're also making a solution."