By Bob Pospick

Aspiring students are invited to spend a week at the 2012 Physical Computing Summer Camp where experienced instructors will teach the physical side of computing. Students will discover how easy it is to make their high performance 3π robots light up, sound off and move out!

Computers, big and small, are increasingly found in everything from cars to coffee makers, and it’s programming that makes them work. Understanding and using computer science is a skill that will give students an edge going forward in the 21st Century.

Brenda McGurgan, the Highland Park High School Computer Science chair, along with Bob Pospick, a local mechanical engineer and robotics enthusiast, will lead the students through activities designed to be fun and engaging, while teaching the fundamentals of computer programming. Each day brings a new hands-on programming challenge, and the week culminates with a robot race.

The summer camp is designed for students who have completed grades seven and up. It will be hosted at the Zion Lutheran School, 6121 E. Lovers Lane (at Skillman). The weeklong camp runs from 9 a.m. to noon on June 25-29. Past experience is not required other than an interest in robotics and computers! And best of all, the campers get to keep their robots as they continue exploring the fascinating world of physical computing.

For more information and to register online, go to http://robotics.shinayaka.us.