Arapahoe Charter students to compete in First Tech Challenge

Arapahoe Charter School leaders are hoping students learn valuable skills that can be used both in and outside the classroom through one of their robotics programs and competition.

Arapahoe Charter School has had a robotics program for the past four years, but this year is the first time students are competing in robotics.

The competition is the First Tech Challenge and work begins next weekend on their first challenge.

Eight Arapahoe Charter students, along with four students from Pamlico County High School will work on their first challenge of building a robot that must complete certain tasks.

The program's mentor, Raymond Marks, says learning stem and robotics skills are important for students.

"This is basic applied engineering, everybody says engineering is so scary but it's not, it really is just building and then if something doesn't work figure out what needs to be fixed, fix it and build again," said Marks.

Marks said the skills can help students outside of the classroom as well.

In addition to the main robotics program at Arapahoe Charter, the school also offers logo robotics to students beginning as early as kindergarten.