Like so much today, student robotics activities are navigating the demands of social distancing. In robotics, there’s a lot of fun building and programming the robots, but the real fun comes from the competitions. 

“Our kids like to compete. Even when it’s against ourselves, the kids like it,” said Joel Hayano, Powell High School math and technology teacher. 

In December 2019, the Powell Middle School robotics team Dark and Orange Storm took the Champion’s Award at the Lego League Wyoming State Championship in Casper. They were invited to represent Wyoming at the World Festival in Houston, Texas, which was scheduled for April 2020.

Due to COVID-19, however, the event was canceled. It was an unfortunate blow to the team, which had worked hard to win the invitation and raised the $10,000 needed to make the trip. 

This year, the competitions are going virtual. Despite that, PMS eighth grader Salem Brown said it’s not slowing them down.

“Yes, we’re still very excited,” Brown said. “Even though it’s online, we’re still excited for the opportunities to grow and learn through the competitions this year, even though they may be a little bit different.”

Brown was one of the Black and Orange Stormers last year, and this year she’s on the Jeniusism 101 team. 

The Lego League, which sponsors the competitions, has different themes every year. Last year’s theme was City Shaper, which challenged the students to create innovative and creative approaches to addressing various problems within a city — such as transportation, environment and accessibility.

This year, the theme is RePLAY, which challenges the students to find ways to increase participation in activities. So, for example, the Fire-Breathing Rubber Duckies is trying to make simpler games that would encourage younger students to participate in robotic activities. 

“We wanted to make smaller games that anyone can play,” said JJ Gardner, an eighth grader at PMS. 

Rather than meeting with other teams at state competitions, the students will video their entries, which will then be submitted.

Hayano is planning a small scrimmage, called the Robo Rumble, on Feb. 27, at Powell High School Ag Barn. It will allow the high school students to at least have some opportunity to compete face-to-face with teams around the area, as well as each other, and the Ag Barn offers plenty of space for social distancing. There are potentially 20 teams coming. So far, two Cody teams, two Montana teams, two Wyoming Indian High School, two Midwest School, and seven Jackson teams have expressed interest. 

“We’ll see how it goes,” Hayano said.