Written by Sanctuary Director Renata Pomponi
What’s the first thing you think of when you hear “Drumlin Farm?”
Sheep? Chickens? Vegetables?
How about robots?
With our commitment to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education, robotics students have the chance to feel right at home here. Recently, a team of sixth graders from the Ephraim Curtis Middle School in Sudbury approached Drumlin Farm for help with an unusual project.
As part of the First Lego League (FLL) program, an international engineering competition designed to foster teamwork and creativity, the students were given two main tasks: 1) design and build a Lego robot to complete an obstacle course, and 2) come up with an innovative solution to a real-world problem. Calling themselves “Crushed Ice, Ink.™,” the students needed a testing ground to research this year’s project challenge: Find a way to reduce trash and its impact on communities. After Sanctuary Director Renata Pomponi told them that plastic straw wrappers from juice boxes were the most common type of trash found on the farm, the boys were off and running.
They began with a service project: Find straw wrappers and clean up the farm! They didn’t have to look very far—they found 37 abandoned wrappers in the picnic area alone. After their cleanup efforts, the students met with our property staff to learn about how trash is handled at the farm, from the trash can to the Lincoln town transfer station. They were amazed at both the volume of trash produced each week, as well as how much can be recycled. They also learned the challenges of waste management at a large facility like Drumlin Farm, especially the problems that result from contamination during the recycling process.
Armed with this information, the boys set about to create a solution, starting with brainstorming and rapid prototyping in Renata’s office and continuing over the next two months. Their final design, “Wrapperz Be Gone,” completely eliminates the plastic straw wrapper in favor of a secure sleeve that keeps the straw clean and can hold the straw after use. Our staff admired the design for its potential to significantly reduce the amount of litter generated by the many school groups and visitors that come to the farm each year, free up time from the property staff in charge of clean up, and keep litter away from wildlife.
At their regional tournament, Crushed Ice’s robot not only performed well, but their project was a big hit, winning them the “Most Innovative Solution” trophy and their first trip to the state finals. On December 19th, they competed against 83 other teams across Massachusetts in an all-day tournament held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, placing in the top half and bringing a little bit of Drumlin Farm with them to share with the judges and other teams. We’re proud of their innovative spirit and desire to keep Drumlin Farm and other outdoor spaces clean. Congratulations, Crushed Ice!
If you would like to get a taste of Lego building with a farm twist, register now for our Barnyard Bricks program and learn more about Drumlin Farm’s innovative approach to environmental STEM learning.