Later this month, local girls will get a chance to build a robot.

The unique opportunity comes courtesy of Northshore Technical Community College, and it is a free chance for any girl in the eighth or ninth grade to get some hands-on science training. The summer camp runs from June 28 to June 30.

Cynthia Smith, the college and career transitions coordinator at NTCC, said this is the first time the college has offered the training and it is in partnership with Red Stick Robotics.

“We are promoting science, technology, engineering and math, to bring awareness for the opportunities for females in STEM,” said Smith.

The goal is to inspire girls to take more science courses in high school and then in college. Nationally, critics have pointed to a lack of females in science and technology fields, so across the US, educators have been encouraging girls to take early interests in the fields.

“We want to make an awareness the high wages and high demands for STEM careers for females,” said Smith.

The course is also limited to only 24 students, and Smith pointed out that the courses are a bargain opportunity.

“The normal cost would be $250 per participant,” she said.

The free courses are made possible through a federal grant, and Smith said she’s not sure when the courses will return.

“It depends on funding,” she said.

For girls who do take the course, the Red Stick Robotics team will teach participants how to build and program a robot and then there will be a competition.

“They will actually get to present this robot to their parents,” said Smith.

To register, sign up at www.redstickrobotics.org/2016-ntcc-summer-camps.html

Or for more information, call Smith at 985-732-6640.