ASI Robotics

I hope this post finds everyone well. We will begin virtual classes tomorrow or Monday based on your class schedule. Here are a few more photos from our amazing adventure in New Zealand at the glowworm caves.

A few more photos of hobbiton.

We ended our adventure today in the magical world of the hobbits. Hobbiton was the set of the Hobbit trilogy directed by Sir Peter Jackson. It was a beautiful place to visit and we learned a great deal about how the Alexander farm was selected and the set was kept intact for those fans who love the JRR Tolkien classics.

One of the most spectacular sites in New Zealand are the glow worms in the waitomo caves. We spent the morning exploring the underground limestone caverns and learning about the glow worms. We ended our adventure by sailing through the caves with thousands of glow worms overhead.

We then ended our day on Waiheke island at Oneroa Beach after grabbing a quick bite to eat. We enjoyed the ferry ride back, had dinner, and went to bed early to prepare for our final full day here in New Zealand tomorrow when we visit hobbiton and the glow worm caves!

Before lunch, we headed to the Rangihoua estate Olive oil producer where students learned about olive farming and olive oil production. We also engaged in an olive oil tasting.

We made a quick stop at the Oneroa beach where we were able to take some breathtaking photos.

We were met by a bird that the Maori consider good luck or a spirit in our world. This tranquil hike allowed students to see the true beauty of the island.

We were greeted by our local tour guide, Michael, who showed me a traditional Maori greeting where both parties touch noses, close their eyes, and inhale deeply. We then embarked on a 2-mile hike through the beautiful wooded areas of Waiheke island.

We started our day off with a walk down to the Auckland ferry terminal and a high speed ferry ride over to Waiheke island.

An unplanned yet amazing opportunity arose today for one of my former unmanned aerial systems (drones) students from last year, Nayeli Diaz-Doran, who not only demonstrated her skills as she photographed our host school with the beautiful bay in the background but also took the amazing photograph of all of the teams at the New Zealand national Robotics competition!

All three of the ASI Robotics teams had an amazing day competing with and against our host teams from New Zealand. Everyone has been incredibly friendly, amazingly kind, and exceptionally welcoming. A special thanks to Janet Van who made it possible for us to make this trip and connect with Hayden Christensen and all of the KiwiBots teams!

Kiwibots