What do Skunks, ducks and robots have in common? They all make science, technology, engineering, and math fun!

Members of Skunk Works, Aviation High School’s robotics team, have designed a robotics competition to teach Boys & Girls Club Members Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and apply it in a fun, hands-on experience.

Skunk Works team members have been training staff at Boys & Girls Clubs throughout King County to coach robotics. The coaches then helped kids at the Clubs to build robots that can complete a challenge. Coaches and kids will be putting their skills to the test from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Raisbeck Aviation High School located at 9229 East Marginal Way South in Seattle.
Teams will need to complete a series of two-minute challenges. The challenge is centered around rubber ducks, with each robot gaining points by moving ducks to a pond, crate, or gate, all of which are part of the field setup built by Skunk Works. Teams can also lose points by assisting their robot or by knocking over a gate post.

“We are excited to support robotics at the Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Christina Ide with North Coast Electric. “The 21st century work force is going to require an understanding of robotics. What’s great is to bring robotics to this group of young people, make it fun, and help them learn from other students who are going to pursue STEM degrees.”

North Coast Electric is a primary sponsor of the robotics program.

Other sponsors include OMANTEK and Champion and Associates.

For more information, contact Steve Burke at 206-255-2973.

Since 2007, The B-Town Blog is Burien’s multiple award-winning hyperlocal news/events website dedicated to independent journalism.