Scouts in robotics competition

Hardyston — What do Girl Scouts and robotics have in common? The First Lego League Smart Move Challenge. Girl Scouts from the Northern New Jersey Council participated in the 2009 New Jersey State Tournament held Dec. 15 at the Mount Olive High School. Team Miracles Can Happen included Cadette Scouts from Hardyston and other areas in the Riverdale Service Center. They were one of five Girl Scout teams that represented the GSNNJ at the Regional Event, held Dec. 5. The Girl Scouts who participated came from various troops over Northern New Jersey. The majority did not know each other until they started working together in Robotics. This was one of the many opportunities offered to girls through the Girl Scout Program to build life leadership skills and friendships. Miracles Can Happen qualified for advancement to state completion, after they received the Judges Award at the Regional event. The team was unique in that they worked without a mentor and learned to build and program the vehicle (Miracle) on their own. Miracle was required to perform several “missions” and return to base. Points were given for the degree to which missions were completed. Miracles, along with Team Nerd Herds, received awards at the state competition. Miracles received second place in the teamwork category; their Girl Scout Sister team Nerd Herds from the Paramus Service Center, took first place in teamwork. All teams worked over a 12-week period meeting with the sole coach for all five teams, Lorena Kirschner, who is the Special Initiatives Coordinator for Girl Scouts Northern New Jersey.