Local Elementary students need your support to compete in Robotics Competition

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - Two teams from Westside Elementary School are going to Washington, D.C., this weekend to compete in the SeaPerch Competition. More than 130 international teams will compete, trying to navigate their robots through an obstacle course to earn the most points in 20 minutes.

The two teams heading to Washington are the Soaring Sharks (McKenna Taggart, Claria Ence and Everlee Graham) and the Underwater Conquistadors (Bentley Boucha, Cullen Rainey and Thomas Jones).

"It's just a fun experience. I think it's kind of cool," the Soaring Sharks said. "Just the fact that we made it through regionals and are going. It's also kind of cool because we're one of the only elementary teams, and we beat out seventh- and eighth-graders."

The SeaPerch Competition is an opportunity for students to experience STEM in a hands-on learning environment. Teachers help students navigate the designing, building and competing involved.

"The obstacle course is a set of five hoops going horizontally or vertically that we have to go through," the Underwater Conquistadors said. "Once we get to the other side, we have to stop. Then we have to go back through the hoops, and we're trying to get the fastest time possible through those hoops. The mission course is basically a series of tasks that you need to complete, and each one gives you a certain amount of points. You're trying to get the most points possible in 20 minutes."

However, getting to the competition could be a challenge, as the team still needs support to make the trip.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing," the teachers explained. "We've contacted Sen. Mike Crapo. We get to tour the Capitol building. There are a lot of really exciting things that kids get to experience, but we are still fundraising. We're not quite at our goal at this point. If we got about $4,000 more, I think we'd be able to cover all of our expenses."

Community members interested in supporting the students' trip can contribute through the team's Venmo account.