On July 15, Academic and Behavior School West celebrated the culmination of the school’s very first All-Earth Ecobot Challenge with a Challenge Day.

Seven student teams faced off on the challenge mat to accomplish specific tasks on a competition table. For each task completed, teams were awarded points. All forty students received a certificate of participation and the top three teams received medallions.

Joe Paneitz, the curriculum director and game designer for the All-Earth Ecobot Challenge, has been involved with the competition for over ten years.

“It’s surreal [to see these students], he says. “It’s really exciting and a bit emotional because it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions and learning experiences getting to know the kids. You start to build a relationship with them and it’s exciting to see them smile. I’m seeing kids smile today, I’m seeing them get high-fives, and for this population, that is gold.”

The All-Earth Ecobot Challenge for general population students will proceed next school year with a recycling theme.