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Junior Robotics

Posted on by Calico Jo

We had a blast and a half Saturday, November 23rd, during Junior Robotics! The morning began with introductions, a safety talk, and a tour of our new shop. We talked about how solar energy works, and the pros and cons of how much it costs our environment to produce this clean energy provider. In the end, the kids decided if we could make everything solar powered, it would be totally worth it. Then, we built tiny solar powered cars, and held a race. It was a close one, but the sun came out just in time to indulge us! After the race, we demonstrated our t-shirt cannon, Percy, and shot off t-shirts for the kids.

November Junior Robotics!

Posted on by Calico Jo

With our new space crammed full but not yet organized, the Scalawags are proud to announce that our Junior Robotics program will resume business as usual. Our first meeting in our new space at the high school will be Saturday, November 23, from 9:30 to 11. 4th through 8th graders are invited to the small engines room in the 700s hall, which can be reached by driving around to the back of the school, where the staff parking lot is located. There will be lights on, a door propped open, and a pirate flag proudly waving. Returning students are encouraged to bring a friend! Don’t forget to come with close toed shoes, tied back hair, a good attitude, and no loose or flowing clothing!

Car Wash!

Posted on by Calico Jo

Sunday, October 20, the Scalawags worked from 1 to 4 washing cars in the parking lot of Rife’s Home Furniture in the freezing cold rain. This is just one of the many ways the kids on the team help to raise their own money. Every year, we have to raise almost $20,000 to build and compete with our robot. Most of the budget comes from mentor-written grants, but the kids help by manning concessions and car washes, as well as collecting cans and bottles. You can donate your cans and bottles to the Albany BottleDrop account for the Scalawags, give them to the team at any public event, or email us at kelly.cleveland@lebanon.k12.or.us and we will come pick them up.

Moving in at the High School

Posted on by Calico Jo

It’s official! We have set up fencing to keep our tools safe, and our shelves and cabinets are moved into place. At our meeting Wednesday night, we wiped down the shelving and cabinets. Sunday afternoon at 1, we will be loading a trailer with our absolutely necessary tools and parts. The team will then sort and organize everything between the trailer and its new home, ensuring that we settle in properly. We cannot wait to have a place to work and resume Junior Robotics, and none of it would be possible without Mr. Tatum, our hard working mentors, and especially our NEMO, Kelly Cleveland.

Moving Possibilities

Posted on by Calico Jo

Starting this weekend, the weekend of October 26th, the Scalawags will begin cleaning, sorting, and moving our choicest items to our temporary home… the classroom we will be sharing with Mr. Tatum at the high school! Although it will not be ideal, we are so grateful that we have been offered a location for the year until we can make our partnership with the Boys and Girls Club work. If you would like to volunteer to help us move some of our heavier tools and items, you can message us on Facebook @scalawags1359.

Trick-Or-Treating With the Team!

Posted on by Calico Jo

October 26, the Scalawags got to hand out candy to the youth of Lebanon. We promoted positive alternatives to running around getting into trouble, and brought STEAM to kids around the town. Interested older siblings of the younger trick-or-treaters got to drive our t-shirt cannon, Percival, and received information about how they can join the team. The Scalawags can’t wait to get back out there and share our love for learning with the community!

Turkraken Model X1359

Posted on by Calico Jo

The ARRRRRt team of the Scalawags came together to participate in a local competition centered around the Lebanon Turkeys. This spunky squad of turkeys has wandered around Lebanon long enough that they have become a crucial part of our community culture. Protected by law, feared by those walking the sidewalks, and loved by all, the Downtown Association created an annual art competition to decorate a turkey form. The Scalawags created the Turkraken Model XX1359, a cyborg turkey kraken with metal tail feathers, metallic body feathers, a door handle beak, camera lens eye, and a tiny pirate hat.

50/50 @ the Willamette Speedway

Posted on by Calico Jo

The Scalawags took the opportunity to raise funds on June ??. For 6 hours, while the race cars zoomed around the track, the robotics team sold raffle tickets. Half of the ticket sales were put into the prize winnings, and the other half went to the team’s budget. We hope to do another 50/50 at the Speedway next summer, encouraging our team members to earn money towards our registration fees.

Splashing around!

Posted on by Calico Jo

On Saturday, June 22, the Scalawags held a free car wash at Rife’s Home Furniture, across from Safeway in Lebanon. We scrubbed bugs off of cars from 1 to 4 PM to help raise money towards our entry fees for competitions. As we are a charity, we did not charge for the car wash, but we did ask for monetary donations and cans and bottles. Not only did we scrub bugs, we washed wheels, cleaned under windshield wipers, and dried off each car that came through. Our next car wash will be July 13.