July/August Newsletter: Volume 14

August 13, 2024

In this issue . . . We'll tell you about our first year Summer LEGO Day Camps and what's coming this fall. We'd also like to highlight a sponsor, Poland Spring, who's given us distilled water to use in our Haas CNC mill and drinking water for our students and mentors. Thanks to all who support us - including United Way of the Tri-Valley Area (Farmington) who sponsored two Lego Summer Camp students ($200.00 each)!!

Lego Summer Day Camps

Session 1: July 15th - 19th, 8:30 - 3:30, 6th - 8th grades

At Lego Robotics camp, campers learned how to construct a Spike Prime based robot and created non-motorized attachments such as a plow, wedge and one way gate. Campers also learned about how gears and gear ratios work and how to construct linear actuators and reciprocating devices.  Campers learned how to program the robot to drive and how to use touch, ultrasonic, light and gyro sensors.  They learned how center of gravity, friction and sources of error affect robot performance. It wasn't all work, though. The campers also played games with the Romi robots before each day of camp began, had a play/snack break and a lunch/recess break. 

Session 2: July 29th - Aug 2nd, 8:30 - 3:30, 3rd - 5th grades

For Lego Engineering camp, campers started their day with free build, saw demonstrations and followed guided builds teaching fundamental engineering concepts. In the afternoon, developed their own solutions to the following challenges:

Day 1: Weight Distribution and Center of Gravity – Build the Tallest Tower You Can!

Day 2: Forces, Triangles and 4 Bar Linkages – Build a Bridge that Can Hold the Most Weight! 

Day 3: Levers – Build a Catapult that Can Launch the Furthest 

Day 4 : Gears – Build the Fastest Motorized Car

Day 5 : Pulleys & Gears – Build an Elevator that Can Lift the Most Weight

Session 2 campers also had time for fun and here's what some said about camp. "I wish camp was longer." and "It's the best camp ever!" They all learned a lot and want to come back next year!

Coming this Fall

FIRST Lego League - Squires of Katahdin

On Tuesday, August 6th, at noon, FIRST Introduced the game for 2024-2025.

In SUBMERGED, your students (5th - 8th grade) will use creative thinking and LEGO® technology to explore the layers of the ocean and bring their learnings and ideas to the surface as they “sea” into the future. Watch this video for more details and see this year's Challenge Set and Robot Game.

The team will start meeting in September. If you have a student who is interested, please contact us at info@mainestreamplace.org

FIRST Robotics Competition - Knights of Katahdin

This year's game is called Reefscape. All the game rules will be announced on the first Saturday in January.

Our Knights (High School age group) team will start meeting for pre-competition season learning, fundraising, and outreach activities. We plan to start meeting a week or two after Labor Day. Schedule will be announced to all existing team members and families.

For more information, please contact us at info@mainestreamplace.org

Sponsor SPOTLIGHT

Poland Spring has generously donated 120 gallons of distilled water in November of 2023 and June of 2024. We use the distilled water to operate our Haas CNC mill to make metal parts for our FIRST Competition Robotics team robot. They also donated 17 cases of bottled drinking water this July. Our students and mentors greatly appreciate the clean water to quench their thirst while learning, creating and competing. Our LEGO campers also used water bottles as weights to test their challenge creations, before drinking. Watch this. Thank you so much!!

PROGRAM NEEDS

How can YOU make a difference at MSPI?

Financial contributions toward programs, competition fees and team travel are always needed and appreciated!

The WISH LIST items below would be put to good use, and could be new or gently used:

• Paper towels

• Snacks for teenagers!

• Keurig Coffee Maker

• Vlogging Camera so we can take better pictures and video footage, example linked HERE

• Heat Press for ironing logos on our team shirts and hoodies, our favorite is HERE

• Refrigerator (Could be full or apartment size) Yay!, we have one on the way!!

• Metal Cabinet (Counterheight for food storage, metal to be creature-proof,) example linked HERE, but a similar style would work!

• Laser Safety Glasses for Glowforge viewing linked HERE

• Laminator

• Markers for Glass White Board, linked HERE

• Composition Notebooks, linked HERE

• Sublimation Printer and supplies This would allow us to make multi-color iron-ons that meld to the shirt material and a bunch of other items like mugs, water bottles, can cozies, etc.

You can also donate the proceeds from your RETURNABLES (Bottles + Cans) to Maine STREAM Place, by visiting Ron’s Redemption in Farmington (144 Franklin Avenue)

REACH OUT