Moving Monsters, Robots, Propeller and Balloon cars and Sparkling Rotocopters were all projects made during the fourth Girls Get Tech (GGETT) Camp. A full complement of 30 girls, aged 9 – 15 took part in this year’s camp. While the youngest group focused on making two types of moving monsters, one using pneumatics with syringes and one using levers, the two older groups had to design, build and test cars – one powered by balloons and the other by propellers driven by motors. Probably one of the greatest challenges was the day the power was out, and the girls had to resort to cutting and gluing by hand (the old fashioned way – which is really tough). These projects all fell into the Design Challenge component of the camp.
The girls also took part in woodworking where they made tangram puzzles in a frame. In the electronics area the projects included Chibitronics® cards, inventions/contraptions created with littleBits® and learning to solder. There was also the challenge for the older group to program Lego Mindstorm® Robots as well as building attachments to complete various tasks. All participants were able to make a small sign using the vacuum former.
On the final day of the camp, the girls were able to display their work and explain the technology used: to various parents, guardians and interested individuals. The Honourable Cora Richardson-Hodge and Permanent Secretary Dr Bonnie Richardson Lake presented certificates to the participants. Throughout the camp, the girls were guided by the main facilitators, Franklin Brandon, Eva Hodge and Vidal Permuy who were assisted by Jertiza Samuel, Feliciano James, Jevohn Martin and Corvel Fleming, all under the guidance of the coordinator of Janis McKeag.
The Girls Get Tech camp is an initiative of the TVET Council of Anguilla and was originally a project of the Caribbean Development Bank as part of the building of the Anguilla Community College. Its continuing existence is based on the contributions of parents and guardians, the government of Anguilla and the education community. We would like to thank ANGLEC for sponsoring the t-shirts for the camp and for the lending of Ms Jeritza Samuel to serve as a role model for careers in the electrical industry.
– Contributed
