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The high school robotics program kicked off Saturday, January 7 with the introduction of the challenge called STEAMworks.  The combined FIRST North Branch-Chisago Lakes robotics team has 28 members and will be meeting six days per week until February 21, 2017.  Seven adult mentors will be working with the team as they build their robot with the goal of competing April 7-8-9 at the University of Minnesota-Williams Arena. Team Leader Becky Leuer shared that the team is very excited for the challenge as it looks fun and they are confident they can design and build what is needed to accomplish robotic tasks required.  To view an animation of the game, go to YouTube and search STEAMworks.

Local Tournament
North Branch will be hosting a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics Tournament  for 48 teams the weekend of January 21 and 22.  Teams will compete on Saturday and Sunday, at North Branch Area Middle School in the south gym.  Opening Ceremonies at 11am followed by qualification matches from 11:15-3pm with a break for lunch about noon.  Elimination rounds begin at 4pm with semi-finals followed by finals.  The event is free and everyone is invited to attend.  

FTC programs build 18" X 18" robots that compete two against two for 2:30 minute matches.  North Branch has 5 FTC teams, Cambridge-Isant has three, and Chisago Lakes has two teams.  North Branch has one team competing on Saturday and three on Sunday.  All Chisago Lakes teams will be competing on Saturday and Cambridge Isanti will be in action on Sunday.

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