Fifty Bainbridge High students and their adult mentors have been quietly creating a robot over the past six weeks that is capable of firing foam boulders, scaling walls and capturing towers.

And with building, programming and testing now complete, the members of Team Spartronics are ready to introduce ARES (an Advanced Robot Engineered for Siege) during a community open house next week.

The special event is 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 in the 300 Building at BHS.

“We are hoping the community will come out in force to see, hear and support students who are having the ‘hardest fun of their lives,’” said Enrique Chee, the teacher who leads the Spartronics, also known as FIRST Team 4915.

Chee said visitors to the open house will have plenty to see.

“You will meet our programming, mechanical, electrical and marketing teams, and you’ll get a first look at ARES in action,” Chee said.

There will also be light refreshments.

While Team Spartronics is hosting the event and will publicly unveil ARES for the first time, the open house will also showcase the talents of two middle school FTC (First Technical Challenge) robotics teams and four FLL (FIRST Lego League) community teams comprised of students ages 9 through 14.

“With multiple age groups demonstrating science, technology, engineering and math education in action, the open house offers an opportunity for us all to show our appreciation and demonstrate how much community support enables us to do,” Chee said.

Team Spartronics are heading into their third year as a FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics team.

FIRST challenges team members to build and program a robot that can perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors, raise funds, design a team “brand” and hone teamwork skills.

After a national kickoff in January, Team Spartronics began creating their new robot using a kit of parts purchased from FIRST and custom parts designed by the team. They will join more than 3,000 teams from around the world competing for glory in Stronghold, the 2016 FIRST Competition game. Played by two alliances of three teams each, the game involves breaching the opponents’ defenses and capturing then scaling their tower.

Teams participate in regional and district events designed to measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration and the determination of students.

The competitive season will culminate with the FIRST Championship at the Edward Jones Dome, April 27-30 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Inventor, entrepreneur and science and technology advocate Dean Kamen founded FIRST in 1989.

Kamen’s goal was to inspire young people’s interest in science and technology with robot-building activities he calls “Sport for the Mind.” It’s the only school sport where all members are eligible to turn pro if they choose. Based in Manchester, New Hampshire, the not-for-profit organization works to motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge and life skills.

To see pictures and learn more about Team Spartronics, visit their Web page at http://www.spartronics4915.com.