Several organizations throughout Pennsylvania are engaging young people in hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) learning experiences, including robotics.
For the past ten years, Pittsburgh-based program ''Girls of Steel'' has been teaching high school aged girls how to build their own robots at the Field Robotics Center at Carnegie Mellon University. The program accepts up to fifty applicants each year from around the Pittsburgh region. Together, the girls of Steel City forge their own robot each season. You can watch the PBS39 Tech Takeover profile piece on Girls of Steel on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
In the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia regions, there are several public groups available for students interested in robotics:
Lehigh Valley CORE
Location: 2809 Saucon Valley Rd. Center Valley, Pa.
Website: http://www.lvcore.org/
Lehigh Valley CORE is founded on the concept that many students are introduced to coding and robotics at school, but there are students who seek MORE opportunities outside of school. These are students whose interests and passions are ignited by technology and the endless creative possibilities it provides.
Penn State Robotics & Programming Club
Location: 1015 Bridge Rd. Collegeville, Pa.
Website: https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h/counties/montgomery/clubs/robotics-programming-club
The Robotics and Programming Club meets Mondays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the 4-H Center. Open to youth 11-18 years of age. The Robotics and Programming Club's mission is to increase enthusiasm towards, and knowledge of electrical engineering; computer science and robotics. Members learn computer programming and engineering principals as they design, build, and program a robot. Through this process youth will develop problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills and apply those skills to real-world problems.
University of Pennsylvania General Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception Lab: Junior FIRST Lego League'
Location: GRASP Laboratory 3330 Walnut St. Philadelphia, Pa.
Website: https://www.grasp.upenn.edu/programs/penn-junior-first-lego-league
For children ages 6-10, Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL®) captures young children's curiosity and directs it toward discovering the wonders of science and technology. This program features a real-world scientific concept to be explored through research, teamwork, construction, and imagination. Guided by adult Coaches, teams use LEGO® bricks to build a model that moves and develop a Show Me Poster to illustrate their journey.
One of the largest robotics organizations for youth is FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a New Hampshire-based nonprofit that works to provide STEM-related programs to youth throughout the world. FIRST operates the FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge, among others. Click here to see a map of FIRST Mid-Atlantic's affiliated robotics programs serving Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.