Overview
The future will be full of robots and automation. Who will design, build, manage, and repair the advanced technology we will depend on? Northridge Robotics is training those future scientists, business leaders, and engineers — helping them to decide what career in STEM to pursue.
Why Robotics?
In this two-week camp, campers will design, construct, and pilot their own robots using computer code. Campers are divided into teams; each designing their own robots to compete against each other in FIRST Tech Challenge Robotic Competitions. Campers will develop skills in:
- Planning & Design
- Mechanical Intuition
- Teamwork
- Programming
Week One: Mechanics: Driver-Controlled Competition
The first week of camp will focus on creating great robotic design. Campers learn:
- Basic Theory of Physical Mechanics
- Application of Physical Mechanics
- Usage of FIRST Tetrix Robotics System
- Construction & Design
Camp Counselors
Camp Counselors consists of robotics team veterans — both current members and alumni members. They are role models who are passionate both about STEM and helping students. And many are pursuing STEM careers themselves in college.
Camp Leadership
- About:
Dr. Nicholas Kruckenberg is a principal software engineer, writing and maintaining software used by Fortune 100 companies, Federal agencies, and international telecoms to monitor IT infrastructure.
As an undergraduate, Dr. Kruckenberg read his way from Homer to Heidegger at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM. He earned a Masters and Doctorate in philosophy at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where his research focused on the philosophical underpinnings of modern natural science. While at Catholic University, he helped establish a liberal studies core curriculum, founded and led an undergraduate advising center, and taught courses in philosophy and the humanities. Along the way, he has taught middle school mathematics in Queens, prep courses for students taking law and medical school admissions exams, and – a very long time ago – soil studies and mountain ecology at an outdoor lab school in Colorado.
For fun, Dr. Kruckenberg indulges his interests – philosophical and technological – in artificial intelligence and enjoys watching travel shows and baking competitions with his family. He can be reached at nkruckenberg@northridgeprep.org
Camp fee: $399
Session 1: June 16 - June 20
Hours: 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Entering Grades: 7, 8, 9
Enrollment cap: 20
Camp location: Northridge