This year Makersmiths coached three KidWind middle school teams. All three teams competed in Virginia's Western Regional (March 9, 2022) and the Virginia State (April 23, 2022) Renewable Energy Challenges. The 8th grade solar team (Pictured above) won first place in the Western Regional and the Virginia State Renewable Energy Challenges! Their solar smart house used recyclable shopping bags melted into bricks for the house steps and foundation, vacuum-formed PET for sides and roof and an Arduino Mini Pro that controls sensors to make the ceiling fan and lights automatically operate when it gets warm and hot. The solar panels keep the battery charged that is needed to operate the Arduino and its sensors.

The Silver Blades wind turbine tied for first place in the Western Regional Renewable Energy Challenge and came in 3rd place at the Virginia State Renewable Energy Challenge. 

Silver Blades Middle School Wind Turbine Team

The Golden Wind Blades Middle School Team won second place in the Western Regional Renewable Challenge. 

Golden Wind Blades Middle School Team

To learn more about KidWind at Makersmiths, visit Makersmiths Renewable Energy Teams 2022. This website explains the process our youth go through when designing, constructing and testing out solar and wind projects.