The 2008/2009 Java project will hold its first session on Wednesday, October 1st from 7:00 to 8:30. We will meet in the EP6 Conference Center - the same place First Night was held - at 6:45. Please remember to bring your Photo IDs so sign-in goes more smoothly. We will walk outside to EP5, so so dress appropriately for the weather the night of class. We will walk back to the conference center for 8:30 pick-ups.

Read on for more information

Thanks again to everyone for another great engineering camp. As promised, here are some links to the software used during the Moon Robot Control activity:

• Guido Van Robot: this is the simulation program we used during class. Please note that while the program is free and open-source, it may be difficult to install on computers running Microsoft Windows.
• Scenarios and Solutions: all the files needed to recreate your engineering camp experience in the comfort of your own home (Chief Engineers not included).
• Python Programming Language: this is the "real" programming language used to create the GvR simulation

If you have any questions about Guido, Python, or engineering, feel free to contact Bob at the email address given in class. We hope to see many of you in our Explorer Post in the fall!

Watch this space for more information about this year's Explorer Post projects. We typically send out our invitations in late August. Even if you aren't on our mailing list you can still get all the sign-up info right here! So, keep an eye on this website for further updates.

To help you follow the latest Post 6201 news, we've implemented an RSS feed you can subscribe to with your favorite reader: http://www.post6201.org/backend/6201.rdf Enjoy!

Our final field trip event for the 2007-2008 Explorer Post program will be to the 174th Fighter Wing at Hancock Field.

• When: Saturday, May 3rd - Meet at 12:45 PM; the tour runs from 1:00 - 3:30 PM
• Where: 6001 E. Molloy Road, Syracuse, NY 13211
• Who: All current Explorers and their parents are invited. Space will be limited to 22 people.
• How: Call the post hotline (315) 456-6201 to RSVP. Leave the names of all people attending, a contact phone number, and the make and model of the car you will be driving. We will confirm your attendance before the tour.
NEW: You can also RSVP via an email to tours@post6201.org.

Please note: ALL adults will need a photo ID. Explorers should bring a photo ID if they have it.

Also, please bring comfortable shoes and rain gear, if needed. We will be walking around outside.

The directions to the 174th from Lockheed Martin: Take I-90 East to Exit 35 - E. Syracuse/Carrier Circle. Make the first right onto Thompson Rd. At the second light, turn left onto E. Molloy. The base is approx. 250 ft down the road on the right. There will be security guards posted at the gate. They will direct the parents where to park.

For our next tour we'll be visiting Cooper Crouse-Hinds

• When: Wednesday, April 23rd. Meet at 6:20 PM tour starts at 6:30 PM, ends at 8:30PM
• Where: Visitor's Parking Lot, south side of 7th North Ave at Wolf St.
• Who: All current Explorers and their parents are invited. Space will be limited to 35 people.
• How: Call the post hotline (315) 456-6201 to RSVP. Leave your name, the number of people coming, and a contact phone number. We will confirm with you before the tour.

This is a manufacturing tour, so no loose or dangling clothing will be allowed. Everyone will need to wear long sleeve shirts and pants along with closed-toe leather shoes (steel toes boots preferred). No sneakers!

For our next tour we'll be getting a peek at News 10 Now

• When: Tuesday March 11th. Meet at 6:20 PM tour starts at 6:30 PM.
• Where: 815 Erie Blvd East. Meet at the front door.
• Who: All current Explorers and their parents are invited. Space will be limited to 18 people.
• How: Call the post hotline (315) 456-6201 to RSVP. Leave your name, the number of people coming, and a contact phone number. We will confirm with you before the tour.

If you have cable you should try to watch a little bit of the News 10 Now broadcast so you are familiar with their offering and format.

Not interested in the News 10 Now field trip? Check back later. We'll be offering other trips from now through May.

We're headed for the Loud House! OK, it might not be so loud while we're there...

We'll be touring the Press Box, Stadium Control, Locker Room and Field

• When: Monday February 18th. Meet at 10:50 AM, tour starts at 11:00 AM and lasts about an hour.
• Where: Meet at Gate B of the Carrier Dome.
• Who: All current Explorers and their parents are invited. Space will be limited to 26 people.
• How: Call the post hotline (315) 456-6201 to RSVP. Leave your name, the number of people coming, and a contact phone number. We will confirm your attendance by Friday Feb. 15th.

If you've never been to the Dome you can learn more information and find directions here.

Please note: You should wear walking shoes.

Not interested in the Carrier Dome field trip? Check back. We'll be offering other trips from now through May.

Post Members

We've "set the date" for our first tour of the season. The tour is open to all Post 6201 members and their families and friends. No RSVP is needed - just show up! Hope to see you there!

• What: Lockheed Martin Syracuse Plant Tour
• When: Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 7 – 8:30pm
• Where: Lockheed Martin Plant - Meet at the EP6 Conference Room (same place as Expo and Registration Nights)

Post Members,

We've "set the date" for our annual Post Expo Night. Come and see the results of all of our projects, from Hovercrafts to Rube Goldberg machines. There will be competitions and displays and you'll have a chance to show your family what you accomplished during your Project Meetings. See you there!

• What: Explorer Post Expo Night
• When: Wednesday, January 9th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
• Where: Lockheed Martin Bldg 6 Conference Room (same place as Registration Night)

Thanks for your participation during this week's meeting. We learned more about Object Oriented programming and worked on a text adventure program.

If you missed the session, you can read about these features in wikipedia:

• Polymorphism: It's a big word, but this article has a python example you can cut and paste to experiment.
• Inheritance: skim this article for an overview. This feature allows you to derive new classes from classes already defined (e.g. Dog is a type of Mammal). Note that the Polymorphism example also uses Inheritance.

For homework, please download the character.py and modify it:

• Add a new class that inherits from Character (for example, Knight, Elf, or Dwarf).
• Verify that the Lamp() class allows the object to be turned off and on
• Add a new Item that inherits from item (for example: cloak of invisibility, sword, or medicine)

Also, here's a link to an implementation of the War Card Game program we've worked on in earlier sessions.

As usual, if you have any questions, let us know. Next week: PIZZA PARTY!