ROME — Griffiss Institute’s first-ever Robotics Camp this week is giving area elementary school-aged children the chance to build LEGOs and enjoy a fun “staycation” during their winter break, said Events Coordinator Kelly Poynter.

“We wanted to give the kids a Disney experience,” Poynter explained. “This is for the kids who can’t go to Disney on their break, to give them something fun to do.”

Innovare Force, the LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Camp is a weeklong program held daily for fourth- through sixth-grade students from Rome district elementary schools. Robotics Camp is part of Griffiss Institute’s outreach to inspire the next generation of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students by elevating their talent, empowering innovation and enabling hands-on experiences in the fields of STEM.

The camp was full with 24 participants, Poynter said. It was created with a Star Wars theme, she noted, as that is a series that is popular with both boys and girls.

(See participants explain what they like about the robotics camp, here.)

To be eligible to attend the camp, the students had to write an essay explaining their passion for learning, their motivation in attending the camp and their favorite LEGO build, she noted. The camp was designed to give students experience in researching, designing, building and finally competing LEGO robots in both challenges and experiments.

At the end of the week, the students get to show off their skills to family and friends at a reception at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Griffiss Institute. That reception is open to the public.

“That gives them the chance to show off all of their hard work this week,” said Ashley LaForce, marketing and communications specialist for Griffiss Institute.

Maxamus Page and Steven Varano, both fifth-graders at Gansevoort Elementary School, worked together on a group activity where they took turns describing directions to each other to build a LEGO creation. Varano turned his back to Page, who had already built the model piece, as Page told him what LEGOs to use and where to place them to duplicate Page’s own creation.

Both students said they enjoyed Robotics Camp.

“I like coming out here and having fun with LEGOs,” Page said. “It’s nice.”

“I like to build LEGOs, and I like to code,” Varano added.

LaForce said Robotics Camp offered a great way for the community to get involved in promoting STEM education for the kids, including three volunteers who came in from nearby Mohawk Valley Community College to lead the activities. They included MVCC Adjunct Professor and First LEGO League instructor Jessica Dubois.

“I like that we can bring all of these minds together,” Dubois said. “It’s great the way everyone is collaborating and working together. It shows a nice, bright future.”

Guest speakers included Rome Mayor Jaqueline Izzo and Air Force Lt. Col. Dean Korsak Monday and Tuesday respectively and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. was scheduled for Wednesday at press time. Speakers for Thursday and Friday were to be announced.

The kids might think this was just a fun “staycation” activity, but it was also a chance for their neighbors to help encourage them to seek out more STEM education in the future.

“This is a great way to get the community involved, with all of the students coming in and the volunteer instructors from MVCC,” LaForce said. “This is all about inspiring the children to be the next generation of researchers and scientists.”

Griffiss Institute is at the Innovare Advancement Center, 592 Hangar Road. There will be several free summer STEM camps and another Lego STEM camp this summer — registrations will be available on their website and the programs are expected to fill up fast, Poynter said.

For more information on the institute and its upcoming programs, visit www.griffissinstitute.org.