Here’s a guide to the best youth-friendly happenings in the area from Wednesday, August 19, through Tuesday, August 25, and more.
Ongoing all week of August 19– August 25. While not scheduled at fixed times for youth groups (unless you check individual organizations), these places are great options any day of the week — call ahead for specific hours & classes:
- Muse Knoxville is an interactive children’s museum with daily sessions.
- Zoo Knoxville is open daily; special feeds/talks may have times posted onsite.
- Fort Kid @ World’s Fair Park is a play area with general hours of operation.
- Knox County Public Library often has weekly story times, LEGO clubs, craft sessions, and teen gaming nights. Check their weekly calendar.
Outdoor Knoxville: A calendar produced by Legacy Parks Foundation has a comprehensive list of upcoming local outdoor events. Find it here.
Robotics awards expand opportunities for area students
Area robotics programs are getting a boost through awards that will help students compete, build new skills, and gain more hands-on STEM experience.
Carter Middle School received $5,000 to expand its VEX competition program, add teams and pursue participation in the Rocket Drones program. The funding will also help purchase equipment and remove participation costs that could keep some students from competing.
Gibbs High School received $5,000 to launch and grow its FIRST Robotics Competition program, with plans to build a competition robot, work with Oak Ridge High School’s Wildbots and introduce students to engineering, programming, project management and community STEM outreach.
Other $5,000 awards went to the Hack Foundation’s Voltage Vipers, Knoxville Christian School and Norwood Elementary School. Plans include 3D printing and CAD design, expanded competition opportunities, additional FIRST LEGO League teams, VEX GO competition and new robotics technology.
L&N STEM Academy, Northwest Middle School, South-Doyle High School, West High School NJROTC and the West Hills Elementary Wolfbots each received $2,500. Those programs plan to use the funding for equipment, competition registration, supplies, drones, travel and expanded team capacity.
Across the programs, the awards will help more students move beyond the classroom and put coding, engineering, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork into practice through robotics competition.
This weekly column provides opportunities for all youth in Knoxville, Knox County, and the surrounding areas and sometimes big news for local youth.
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