The first day of Robotics Camp 2010 in Murray, Kentucky, was a success. This afternoon session is a special one because we have never before hosted a combined session with campers in grades 6-8 and in grades 9-11. Our plan is to provide separate but similar experiences for the two groups. The campers began the day by gathering around the virtual campfire and discussing the plans for the day and for the week. The first activity was "Tower of Terror," which challenged campers to build a structure with 20 LEGO pieces or less which would hold a golf ball as high in the air as possible without tipping over. The record was 131 cm. After a quick break, campers took that knowledge to use the entire set to build a cantilevered bridge which had to clear an abutment 5.5 cm high and then extend out as far as possible without further support. This activity, called "Super Structure," enabled students to test their basic building skills with a different outcome. The record span for this camp activity was 126.5 cm. Our final challenge, "Coast for the Most," required campers to construct a vehicle which would travel down a ramp and roll the greatest distance while carrying a LEGO figure as a passenger. Throughout these activities, the teams focused on using good building and friction-reducing techniques. This early construction work will be helpful when the campers begin building  robotic vehicles tomorrow.

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