The RoboCupJunior mission:
creating a learning environment for today,
fostering understanding among humans and
technology for tomorrow

RoboCupJunior (RCJ) is an international robotics initiative focused on technology education for elementary, middle and high school students. The emphasis is on hands-on learning and teamwork. Founded in 2000, RCJ is expanding worldwide at a rapid pace, with lead efforts in Australia, Germany and Japan.

RCJ stands apart from other robotics programs for young students for several reasons:

• RCJ is focused more on education and sharing than on competition.

• The RCJ challenges do not change from one year to the next, giving students the opportunity to develop more sophisticated solutions as they grow and learn themselves.

• The RCJ challenges -- soccer, rescue and dance -- are familiar and can be observed without needing explanation about what is going on.

• RCJ delves more deeply into computer science and programming due to its emphasis on autonomous robots.

• RCJ sits at the entry-level of the international RoboCup initiative, which is strongly committed to education and involvement of young people in technology.

In an attempt to grow participation in the USA, the first New York City regional RCJ event will be held in March 2006. A series of workshops, organized by Elizabeth Sklar, RCJ founding co-chair and CUNY Computer Science professor, will lead up to the event, helping new teachers prepare their students for entry into RoboCupJunior.