Nathan Peterson, left, of Staples, a robotics and automated systems instructor at Central Lakes College, directed much of the activity as campers prepared to test their robotic creations in friendly competition. Thirty-seven students in grades 6-12 attended the sixth annual Summer Engineering and Manufacturing Camp at Central Lakes College in Staples July 12-16. SEaM camp is for students in grades six - 12 and runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. during each of the five days.

It is an opportunity to experience hands-on electronics, motor controllers, mechanical drafting, manufacturing machining and robotics automated systems.

Participants built robots for competition using the same components. Individual creativity and teamwork emerge and the youngsters receive limited guidance from college-student mentors.

“Competition drives the designs as they build these robots,” said Greg Scheler, a Central Lakes College robotics and automated systems instructor. “Designs vary. Each one of the systems or robots is different.”

Families and friends witness the concluding competition, which produced the following prize winners:

Obstacle Course: 1. Dylan Smith, LaPorte and Brady Dunham, Palisade; 2. Carter Diers, Clearwater and Phillip Sanders, Long Prairie; 3. Logan Sonnenberg, Detroit Lakes and Jonathan Bocklund, Nisswa.

Team Hockey/Soccer: 1. Sonnenberg, Bocklund, Smith and Dunham; 2. Jordan Diers, Clearwater; Jared Brever, Long Prairie; Levi Lair, Motley; Matthew Sanders, Long Prairie; 3. Kyle Sellner, Nisswa; Luke Leinen, Long Prairie; Billy Johnson, Cushing; Dylan McLain, Brainerd.

Demolition Derby: 1. Sonnenberg and Bocklund; 2. Brett Gontarek, Breezy Point and Nathan Manuel, Annandale; 3. Alexander Johnson-Lingren, Hillman and Austin Kielty, Long Prairie.

The other campers attending this year, listed by hometown, included:

Baxter - Keaton Riley; Browerville - Emily Lisson; Carlos - Megan Pachan; Fifty Lakes - Jon Maschhoff; Indianola, Iowa - Maryanna Kling, Lidia Peterson;

Little Falls - Mike Jarvis, Aaron Nilsen; Long Prairie - Jack Allen, Zachary Johnson,

Phillip Sanders, Tony Becker, Anna Stevens; Nisswa - Hackett Cook; Pequot Lakes - Jordan and Jonah Lelwica, Levi Palmer, Andrew Ciesluk; Staples - Drew Peterson.