Our First Vacation Camp Prototype a Big Success!

The Marina Orth Foundation partnered with art school ArteLírica, Llano Grande, to offer for pay vacation robotics classes for children 8 to 13 years old. By using the same project based learning that has made our robotics clubs champions in international competition, the workshop was not only a successful experiment for a future sustainable business model but delighted the children and parents alike with its focus on creative problem-solving, design and basic robotics.

Each day the children — 60% of them girls — played the role of an astronaut venturing out into uncharted space, and each day, their journey presented a new problem to solve. Challenges like managing air-supply, dodging asteroids, and long-distance space travel that prompted them to come up with creative ways to continue their exploration. They used simple recyclable materials like cardboard and string to create their space vehicles, another process adapted from Marina Orth Foundation robotics clubs to teach environmental stewardship. The prototypes were powered by basic electrical circuits with motors, a creative way the foundation teaches electricity and wiring.

The enthusiasm of the children built more each day until they shot off the rockets they had made on the last day! Great learning fun was had by all and the workshop fees helped the Marina Orth Foundation continue with their mission to provide free English and tech education for under-resourced children.