2024 OBX: Day 3

Good evening, Bullis parents and community!

This morning, we were again greeted by bright, sunny skies as we headed to Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) on Roanoke Island, historically known as "The Lost Colony." Here, the 6th-graders delved into the world of marine science via the interactive workshops "The Power of Plankton" and "Ocean ROVers." We concluded the day with some beachside fun, including kite flying, football, and splashing in the waves, followed by a buffet dinner at a local family-owned restaurant. 

Please enjoy the following reflections from some of our students and stay tuned for more!

Thi N. '30 explains: 

One of the most enjoyable activities we had today was to construct a ROVer. We learned about different ROVers and how they can be used in different scenarios. We also learned how to create our own ROVer using available supplies such as foams, motors, and controllers. First, we made a base for the rover. Next, we added a motor to control it and a flotation to provide buoyancy. Since the mission for the rover was to pick up a square floating in a pool, we created a "hand" for the rover by attaching a hook to it. We got to test our final product by remotely controlling the rover and successfully directing it to pick up a square in the pool. The entire day was such a blast, and I am now overwhelmingly excited about different robots that I want to test out once I get home tomorrow.

Kendall L. '30 writes:

After lunch, we had lots of fun building ROV machines and taking a beach walk. After coming back we returned to the classroom to be greeted by another instructor. We learned about many ways to find shipwrecks and recover items from the sea. Once done with the instructions, we started our ROV machine building. Using three motors, PVC pipes, and cut-up pool noodles, we constructed our machines to make them float, move, and be able to hook items to grab. We had thirty minutes using our tables with lots of challenges and brainstorming. My group, in particular, ran into a problem with our wires and had to restart.

After we finished building and testing our buoyancy, we went downstairs to test our ROV machines in a pool going through a course. The first obstacle is a hoop to go through, with the second being an item to pick up. Some groups did not succeed with either and others had luck with at least one obstacle or both. After the course, we all had a better understanding of how hard it is to operate a vehicle of this kind. After a long day of building and learning, we headed to the hotel and then the beach across the way. Even though it was pretty cold we all were running through the water and sand like it was a movie. From kites, football, and playing in the sand, it was a great time. We all were a little wet coming back after it, some being soaked. We headed back and showered up before our dinner at "The Dunes Restaurant" in Nags Head. It was a delicious buffet-style restaurant. In all, we had a long and exciting day.

Sincerely,

The 6th-Grade Team






 

Location: Roanoke Island, North Carolina, USA

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