The Great Bend Recreation Commission is hosting Play Well TEKnologies, a Lego inspired engineering camp. The camp is designed to help children think creatively and to explore the world of engineering through the use of Legos.
“The camp teaches children about engineering and in turn it teaches valuable critical thinking skills,” instructor of Play Well TEKnologies David Northup said.
The camp started in 1997 in San Francisco, California, and is now offering their program in 22 states. In Kansas, Play Well TEKnologies is located in Kansas City.
The instructors have varied careers and educational backgrounds – mechanical engineering, architecture, biology, art and law just to name a few. The goals of the company are to help children solve problems, explore the world and express themselves.  
The camp runs from June 29 through July 2, with two sessions. The first session, for children ages 5-6 years old, is called “Pre-Engineering with Legos.” They focus mainly on basic designs and basic engineering concepts. They build boats, bridges, mazes and motorized cars, and learn how these pieces work through engineering.
The second session, for children ages 7-12, is called Engineering “FUNdamentals with Legos.” They focus on more advanced designs and engineering concepts. They apply real world concepts such as physics, engineering and architecture though the building of arch bridges, skyscrapers, motorized cars and other engineering designs.