The Chimacum Robotics Fair marked a culmination of firsts for the Chimacum School District’s robotics program; its first time vying for and making it to the district and semifinal competitions for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO Robotics League, and Chimacum’s first time hosting a multi-school district robotics competition on its own campus April 13.

Maddi Webb, one of three fifth-grade teachers at Chimacum Elementary who guided their own teams of 10 students each through the competitions this winter, explained that the Chimacum Robotics Fair drew 20 teams of 90 students total from three school districts, one of whom hails from the other side of Puget Sound.

While Chimacum and Port Townsend were both represented by multiple grade levels of students, Shoultes Elementary in Marysville sent its team of “Shoultes Sharks” from Snohomish County to Jefferson County, after the Sharks and the Chimacum “Cyber Cheetahs” met up at the eighth annual GeekWire Bash in Seattle March 7.

“It was an incredible experience,” Webb said. “It was the first time the GeekWire Bash was open to STEAM enthusiasts of all ages. Our schools came so far to be there.”

Webb looks forward to seeing Chimacum take even broader strides into the future, by expanding its robotics program to all grade levels, and aiming to strike up collaborations with other school districts, both within and outside of Jefferson County.

“My hope is that this brings attention to how Chimacum is on the move with the STEAM train,” Webb said.

Debra Gatti, head coach of the Shoultes team, was impressed by both the GeekWire Bash and the Chimacum Robotics Fair.

“All of this is amazing,” Gatti said. “Our kids are super-excited just to ride on the ferry.”

Gatti explained how Shoultes has included its fourth-grade students in these excursions, to better prepare them for competition as fifth-graders.

“It gives our up-and-coming kids more experience,” Gatti said. “The more they do, the better they’ll learn.”

Gatti also offered a kind word to the Boeing engineers she and her students have encountered, at their own school, and throughout the robotics events they’ve taken part in for how much the older professionals have taught the youngsters.

Joan Johnston is a member of the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Boeing Bluebills, who was all smiles as she assisted Allie Lawson, a third-grade member of the Chimacum “Unicorns.”

“It’s such a pleasure to work with these kids every Friday morning,” Johnston said, as she worked with Lawson that Saturday afternoon as well. “It’s so much fun just to watch what they can do.”

Brian Reid was equally psyched about seeing his son, third-grader Liam, at work in the Chimacum High School gymnasium that Saturday.

“This is very cool,” Brian said. “He’s always loved playing with LEGO. He even built a robot named Max, who patrols his bedroom.”

Liam likes working with robotics because his level of program determines “...how much stuff I can do with it. It’s multipurpose.”

Homeschooled Port Townsend senior Ella Ashford, a veteran of FIRST Robotics competitions and the CEO of the PT “Sea Dragons” teenage underwater robotics team, was there to teach aspiring students of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math how to steer one of her peers’ robots.

“See? You’re a natural,” Ashford told Shoultes fifth-grader Alyssa Sweeney, before sharing with The Leader why she believes such events are important. “The community has given so much to us, as young robotics students, that we need to give back. By helping to inspire the kids in LEGO League, we’re not just teaching the next generation. We’re helping to make robotics sustainable program at more schools, which creates more civic-minded students.”