Robotics and Pep Band got the opportunity to visit Capetown, South Africa. Our robotics team competed in various competitions across schools and spent time working one-on-one with students to help improve their robotics skills and technology. The pep band went to the same schools to put on different performances.

Students show their skills and teach others at two different schools, the Parkland School and the Floreat School where the robotics team got to compete against other high level teams and teach new techniques.

“(The Floreat School) didn’t really have accessibility and (advanced gear) so we were kind of helping them out,” Robotics member Carson Bates said. “and exchanging information with them (and) helping mentor them.”

During their time in South Africa the robotics team not only competed but they also participated in sightseeing, enjoying the local food and culture.

“That third night we ate crocodile tail, springbok and ostrich meat,” Bates said. “Which is very interesting. The crocodile was pretty good, the springbok was alright and the ostrich had a weird after taste, it was okay. I liked crocodile the best.”

On the third day the students also experienced amazing gardens, viewpoints like the Good Hope southern tip and new wildlife that you wouldn’t find in Florida. 

“We saw ostriches and Galapagos penguins that day,” Bates said. “(We explored) places in Africa like (Hope Point) which is between Antarctica essentially and we went exploring there.”  

The trip allowed students to work with students in a new environment and teach some of the skills that they have easy access to that other countries and schools do not. While competing the robotics team was able to work on mentoring, leadership, and teaching skillsets.

“Some of those kids were picking up on some of the things that we would do and it was really interesting and fun to kind of see,” 11th grader Carson Bates said.