Sue Phillips from
Brevard teaches students about ROBOTS.
Students learn
about new underwater robots
BY GEORGE WHITE
FLORIDA TODAY
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Underwater robots.
Holding underwater remote operated
vehicle at BCC Palm Bay campus camp are,
from left, Meagan Hoffman, Jacob Bailey,
and Paula Kahn. In the foreground is BCC
competition ROV. George White, for
FLORIDA TODAY
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PALM
BAY -- The lake by Brevard Community College's Palm Bay
campus recently became the test site for underwater
robots built by kids during career camps.
Sponsored by the Brevard Tech Prep consortium, a
partnership between Brevard Community College with
Brevard Public Schools, there are 11 career camps held
countywide for students entering 7th, 8th and 9th grade.
“Aqua-bots” in Palm Bay is one of the more popular,
along with Digital Photography, Kids in the Kitchen
Culinary Career Camp and Fashion Production Career Camp,
said Tech Prep Coordinator Cathy Beam.
“At this age they want to have hands on lessons where
you can actually see results when you do it right,’’ she
said.
Other camps include Digital Design, Web Design, Crafts
and Activities for Future Teachers, Drafting and Design
Camp, and a series Mini Medical Camps.
“We asked the campers what they were interested in for
future careers and they were split between science and
engineering,’’ said BCC Palm Bay Biology professor Sue
Phillips.
“Our camp is not just about building (underwater) robots
because we incorporate other subjects like physics and
ocean exploring,’’ she said.
Starting with aqua-bot designs from each camper, groups
of four had to decide on a single design, build it with
PVC pipes and small electric motors and test it on a
small course near the campus dock.
“These camps are a four-day immersion in a technical
skill where they learn but there is no tests or
pressure,’’ Beam said.
The aim of all the career camps -- getting middle
schoolers to make early college plans and good grades in
the right high school classes -- may take years to fully
realize, but it is well worth the effort, Beam said.
“Our teachers are the ones making the difference,’’ she
said.
The career camps are over for 2007 but are expected next
year. For more information, call 433-5771.
George White is a mobile journalist based in Palm Bay.
He can be reached at 795-3835 or
gwhite@floridatoday.com
