Get To Know Us
Providing STEM learning to K-12 students in Pacific County through rigorous robotics camps that elevate the programming, engineering, and collaboration skills of attendees. Camp curricula and competitions are inspired by established programs in technology hubs like Tokyo, Japan.
Camps are offered at no cost to OBSD students and are made possible by partnerships and donations from an incredible community - the Long Beach Peninsula.
Our Story
In 2015 an administrator sat down with a new teacher in West Tokyo @ Yokota AFB and challenged them to build the best STEM program in the pacific region for DoDEA middle schools. That teacher replied that they had never worked with robots before. The admin's response described how this program has been shaped around the skills, interests, and needs of our students over the past decade:
"That's perfect. You will learn with the students."
Our program did just that the following years creating a robotics classroom curriculum for grades 6-8. This led to the start of a club 35-50 students strong that hosted the annual Kanto Plain Robot Rumble from 2017-2019. This competition hosted 30+ teams from international and military schools with students from seven different countries and a team of coaches and STEM professionals. Yokota MS Robotics Club was also able to travel around the Tokyo region competing and providing workshops to elementary students. They excelled at competitions and many of those experiences have informed the club activities we host today.
Life and the pandemic changed the course of so many programs and clubs. In 2021 that teacher was able to resume robotics instruction and built a thriving program @ Hilltop Middle in Ilwaco, WA. The support from the school district and community was so significant that within two years, the school/club was able to host multiple competitions and start a robotics/programming elective course hosted during the school day @ Hilltop Middle School.
The Pacific STEM Robotics Club was inspired and grew from programs with the help of countless individuals, businesses, and organizations in the community. The most important contributors to our success are the students who's passion, and drive for excellence makes our club even better every year. We are so excited that past participants from our courses/clubs/events are now helping in a supportive role through our Student Internship Program.
