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Past Programs

FIRST Place Past Programs

A sampling of some of the programs previously offered through FIRST Place.

Operation Rescue Robots
Robots to the rescue! One of the most challenging and critical tasks for a robot is the harsh conditions of search and rescue. With your teammates, build a machine never before seen to meet this challenge. Learn about the process of invention and bring many ideas from the drawing board to reality using a special kit of parts, including a metal structure and the remote control system used in the FIRST Robotics Competition.

Rock Climbing: A Sport of the Mind
Challenge both your mind and your body as you discover the extreme science of rock climbing. While you plan your route and pick your handholds on the climbing wall, work with engineers to design climbing equipment with Autodesk Inventor, test the strength of the devices, and build a robot to climb by itself. Produced in partnership with Vertical Dreams.

3D Animation... TO THE MAX!
Autodesk, Inc., the animation software guru, has teamed up with FIRST to present this awesome camp. Participants are introduced to animation design to create a fun, high-energy story line on their favorite science or technology topic. Software generously provided by Autodesk, Inc. Suited for children ages 11–14.

Space Odyssey
Space: The Fun Frontier. Travel the historic timeline of human quest for flight. From Da Vinci to the NASA Space Shuttle, discover, build, and compete with some of the flying contraptions these early pioneers of flight designed. Sample the food and drink of the NASA astronauts. Suited for children ages 10–13.

Get a Clue!
Delve into the mysterious world of solving crimes. Take fingerprints, photograph the crime scene, and collect other clues to solve an imaginary crime. Put the culprit on trial. Meet professionals from the State Police Crime Labs. Discover that there is more than meets the eye in the world of forensic sciences. Suited for children ages 10–13.

That's Physically Impossible!
Invent your own contraptions and discover that, like the scientists Newton, Galileo, and Einstein, great minds think alike! Get a charge out of how electricity and magnetism are created. Discover the world of motion with a NASCAR engineer. Find out how to keep time without a watch. Suited for children ages 10–13.

Surfing USA!
Take a trip along the information highway. Learn from the pioneers of telecommunications, like Edison and Morse, and build some of their inventions. Be an e-mail pal with professionals in the world of science and technology. Surf the Internet, create a web page. If that's not enough, sign up for week 2, 'Pop Goes the Video!' and go deeper into this fast-paced world. Suited for children ages 10–13.

Pop Goes the Video!
Discover various worlds of communications. Make a multimedia video in the style of a VH-1TM Pop Up Video. Get your hands on some of the latest high tech innovations of the 21st century. Advanced skills in computers or participating in 'Surfing USA!' are required. Suited for children ages 10–13.

Invention Challenge
Ready for the ultimate brain challenge? Ever build a real robot that moves, acts, and thinks on its own? Using the latest LEGO Mindstorms System and with the help of Junior Achievement, start your own high-tech company to design, program, build, market, and sell your new creation.

Junior Invention Challenge
This mini camp is designed for children who are interested in computers and exploring the world of robots. Like the 5-day Invention Challenge for older children, Junior Invention Challenge campers will have the opportunity to design, program, and build robots that move, think, and act on their own. This program is for ages 9–10.

Doctor X
Do you know someone in need of a new medical invention? Could you invent a robot to hand out medicine to those who need it? Teams of students will tackle real-world problems in medicine with an invention entirely of their own creation. Guests will include engineers, inventors, and experts from the field. Interview customers, build prototypes, and test and market your invention! This program is for ages 9–13.

Extremobots
Get into this robotic challenge, where teams explore forbidding landscapes including Arctic and Antarctic terrain past, present, and future. Students will build autonomous robots to explore frozen landscapes, take ice cores, collect million year old meteorites, and more. This program is for ages 9–13.

Team World Robotics
Join a robotics team to work on humanitarian projects from around the globe. Work on solutions to issues in agriculture, clean water supply, building infrastructure and communication systems, finding land mines, and other important projects. Use the LEGO Mindstorms system to build an autonomous robot with your team to help work on these problems, and run it in a competition with other teams. Suited for children ages 9–14.

Super Secret Codes
Have you ever wanted to pass a secret message to your friend so your older sibling couldn't read it? This course is fun with codes leading to the practical use of mathematics, optics, electronics, and computers. Participants will learn about the use of codes throughout history, use a computer to break historical codes, invent their own codes, build a spying periscope, and use a spreadsheet to automatically decipher codes. Suited for children ages 11–15.

Introduction to the Internet Workshop
Computers are part of our everyday lives. This workshop teachs the surfing skills you need to navigate easily through the Internet. We invite the public, teachers, and home schooling parents to join our knowledgeable staff and learn how the Internet can be used in your lives both effectively and efficiently. Lunch is included. Discounts are available for senior citizens and group registrations. Teacher renewal credit certificates will be available upon request for participation and completion of workshop. This workshop covers:

  • Fundamentals of computer technology
  • Web page development
  • Digitizing imagery
  • Surfing the net
  • E-mail

Missing Links: The Story of Invention
Have you ever wondered how inventions and the major discoveries of the world are made? Spend your winter break at FIRST Place and explore how these discoveries in science and technology have propelled humans to a more advanced society throughout history. From the prehistoric peoples to the information highway, we will explore the missing links that connect historical figures, events, and scientific breakthroughs. Field trips and guest speakers will be some of the highlights of the camp. Participants should bring a lunch. Snacks will be provided. Discounts available to parents enrolling more than one child.

Arts In Science Series
FIRST Placehosted a series of four collaborative presentations showcasing how the arts influence the sciences and how the sciences influence the arts. These presentations included:

  • Theatre: A visiting science fiction playwright will stage a one-act play at FIRST Place. Afterward, the actors, public, and a panel of scientists discuss the scientific realities and ramifications of the play's theme.
  • Music: Visiting musicians perform music focusing on science and technology. Hands-on activities will follow.
  • Re-enactment: A first person monologue of a famous scientist is performed. A public question and answer session follows.
  • Exhibit: An interactive arts/science exhibit.