LRC Senior Forum at the Care One Center

Posted by former_members on October 7th, 2012

LRC Senior Forum at the Care One Center September 19^th, 2012

Five FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) teams from Livingston Robotics Club participated the Senior Forum at the Care One Center September 19^th, 2012. This year’s FLL challenge is Senior Solutions – Can FLL teams improve the quality of life for seniors by helping them continue to be independent, engaged, and connected in their communities? This hour long forum gave kids a great opportunity to understand many challenges seniors face today.

This was a great turnout and collaboration between LRC and Care One. Many seniors came to spent time with the kids. They answered questions patiently and passionately. Some of the seniors, Ms. Annette LaCourtna, Ms. Canehita Graves and Ms. Mary Lane Yaksich, spent the whole hour with the kids.

LRC teams came well prepared. After LRC President Pearl Hwang opened up the forum at 6PM, Brian Zou from Team Technomes came up first to show the seniors his wall-climbing Lego NXT robot. Dylan Belluardo, also from Team Technomes, demonstrated his NXT shoot-bot. After that, kids filed up one after the other to ask seniors questions:

“What do you like about being a senior?”

“What do you not like about being a senior?”

“How do you keep in touch with your family?”

“What are the things you liked to do but can not do it now?”

…

One question many kids wanted to know is “if we can build a robot for you, what do you want it to do for you?” “Dance! If it can dance with me, I will be happy to have it.” Ms. LaCourtna answered with a big smile. Not many kids have anticipated that, but hey, you never know, this might be just what the kids will bring in when they complete their project for this season.

An hour passed quickly. Only five minutes left, Pearl challenged kids to each draw a robot that can help seniors. Many kids also took the time to shake hands and took pictures with the seniors.