Some Guthrie County middle school students get out of school early Thursday but they’re encouraged to keep their brains on and participate in a unique science experiment.

The Guthrie County Extension Office is hosting an Eco-Bot Challenge.  Students attending the event will be able to participate in an innovative engineering competition where 4-person teams design, build and program robots to accomplish 4 missions using a LEGO MINDSTORMS kit.

Youth coordinator Carolyn Wilson says participants will also design a set of control surfaces to program their bot and perform a simulated environmental clean-up project.

The challenge is free to 4-H members and $5 for non-members.  It takes place Thursday from 2-4pm at the extension office in Guthrie Center.  Class size is limited and Wilson asks participants to pre-register by calling 641-747-2276.