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Nine youngsters discovered that Ann Marie Vollstedt has the coolest job they could ever imagine. She gets paid to build robots.

And that’s exactly what she was teaching them all to do — build robotic cars out of Legos, and then use computers to program the robots to move a special way.

It’s called robotics, and Vollstedt is teaching a couple of robotics camps in the Denali area this summer. She grew up in Alaska and teaches robotics at the University of Nevada-Reno where she is a doctoral candidate in engineering. The class is a fun diversion from her summer job as a waitress.

“What is the biggest robot you ever built?” they asked her. Oohs and aahs followed when she described a robot that required 20 motors to make it move. She didn’t tell them that next fall, she’ll help students build a hovercraft.

But most of the time, the fourth- and fifth-graders focused on their own projects, huddled in quiet concentration, attaching wheels and designing cars that will not fall apart. That quiet concentration dissolved into giggles of excitement when their individual cars began zooming around on the carpeted floor.

One group of three sat befuddled, wondering why their car would not move.

“Rub your hands together,” Vollstedt told them. “That’s friction. Your car won’t move if there is too much friction. Try taking the front wheels off or take off both wheels and put one in the center.”

After a bit more fiddling, Rodahn Evans raised his face and arms to the ceiling and announced in triumph, “It works!”

Next on the list, building robotic animals, and some competitions to see who can make their robots do exactly what they want.

At one point, Vollstedt drew a graph on the board showing distance versus time.

“Oh, yeah, “ said one veteran 10-year-old, who felt like he was on familiar territory. “That’s a T graph. We learned that way back in fifth grade.”

Denali Borough School District teacher Bonnie Bruhn stopped in briefly to check out the class.

“They’re working together; they’re problem solving,” she said. “It’s great.”

Of course about that time, Malachi O’Rourke looked at his partner, cousin Ethan Graham, and said, “How come whenever I give you a suggestion, you do the opposite?”

The camp continues at Tri-Valley School all week. Parents are invited to the “Battle of the Bots” on Friday.

The second camp, for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, is scheduled for June 30-July 3 at a yet-to-be-announced location.

Summer Sports Club

The high price of gas means fewer parents are driving their children to Fairbanks for things like soccer and gymnastics. Instead, there is a burst of new programs for youngsters in the Denali Borough this summer.

The Summer Sports Club started this week, a noncompetitive, no-cost community activity for preschool through fifth-graders. Split into age-appropriate groups, volunteer parents will lead soccer, T-ball and softball games twice a week through July 31.

Energetic parents invited Usibelli Coal Mine, First National Bank of Alaska, Railbelt Mental Health and Kids In Motion to pitch in and help buy sports equipment for the many children who will participate.

Other programs scheduled throughout the summer by Kids In Motion include robotics camps, a weeklong arts camp, water safety classes and classes in gymnastics and theater. Susannah Whitaker continues her Denali Ballet Academy as well.

Local teens are mentoring younger kids and helping support these programs through a new leadership/service summer program, which is part of Denali Service Learning.

Moose Scat Scoot

Here’s a chance to get some exercise for a good cause.

Join the Moose Scat Scoot on June 28 at 5 p.m. You can run, walk or bike a half marathon, a 5K or a 1.5 mile fun run/walk.

Billed as the “wackiest fun run” at Denali National Park, the “Scoot” will benefit the new McKinley Village Playground Project at the McKinley Village Community Center.

Residents are renovating and expanding the tiny playground to accommodate a burgeoning population of new Denali residents, most under the age of 4. The expanded playground also includes a basketball court for older kids.

Entry is $25, and the first 50 participants get a free T-shirt. Pledge sheets are available for those who want to collect sponsors. Prizes will be awarded to those who raise the most money.

Registration is at Riley Creek Mercantile, 1 mile inside Denali National Park. Buses will transfer participants to the starting line of the race at 4:45 p.m. The event is sponsored by Aramark.

First Friday

Denali’s first-ever First Friday took place last weekend at the Denali Glass Studio, located on the Denali Princess Resort property.

Owner Michelle Turk featured local fiber artist Shannon Coykendall. A self-taught fiber artist, Coykendall has been felting for about five years, in a small cabin with no running water. She creates lovely bags and wall hangings using unspun wool and creates felt using heat agitation and soap and water.

The turnout was quite impressive. We local residents generally love to celebrate our own talented neighbors.

Watch for next month’s First Friday event with another featured artist.

Borough land auction

Plenty of people have been stomping around the Panguingue Creek Subdivision, checking out the borough lots that will go up for auction Saturday.

There’s a pretty comprehensive packet describing the lots and the procedure for obtaining one. Get it at the borough office.

The auction is an outcry auction, and you must register at the borough office by Thursday at 4 p.m. to participate. The auction takes place at 10 a.m. on June 14 at the Tri-Valley Community Center in Healy.

Donate blood

Make a lifesaving donation to the Blood Bank of Alaska today, at the Tri-Valley Community Center, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact Ticee Graham at 683-2170.

Gas exploration

If you are following the gas exploration issue in Healy, come to the Borough Assembly meeting tonight. Under discussion will be whether lands west of the Parks Highway should be included for development. The meeting is at the Cantwell School at 6:45 p.m.