March 13, 2026
By Eva Shrestha
Staff Writer
Coding, collaboration and curiosity converged when 20 students from the Environmental and Robotics Clubs came together on Feb. 25 for a field trip to Liberty Science Center in Jersey City.
The field trip began with a one-hour workshop in which students worked in pairs using basic JavaScript on iPads to program Sphero, a small robot, to move around the room.
Sophomore Josleiny Castillo, a two-year member of the Robotics Club, said the workshop gave her a better understanding of coding and its application to the real world.
“As technology is getting more prominent in basically every aspect of life, there are always going to be jobs for people who know how to operate and interact with technology.”
“[Our two instructors] taught us how to move through the steps very easily,” Castillo said. “We were able to achieve the objective they wanted us to get to at the end.”
Castillo said she enjoyed learning about how coding translates into movement.
“[Robots] all have different tasks. Some of them are able to sense [their surroundings]. Some are able to move on their own,” Castillo said. “They all run on very complicated, different types of [code].”
After the workshop, students had time to explore the science center’s interactive exhibits, which address topics including the human senses, microbes and the universe.
Environmental Club public relations officer freshman Lexus Pomberger said her favorite part of the field trip was viewing the exhibits.
“There was a lot of stuff with momentum and energy transfer. [There were also plaques] you could read off of that taught us the science behind it,” Pomberger said.
She said she was most excited to interact with the aquatic life, which included horseshoe crabs, Forbes sea stars and Atlantic purple sea urchins, within the Our Hudson Home exhibit.
“There was [a] big tank, and we were able to touch the actual animals inside,” Pomberger said. “We were told what they were and what they do.”
English and public speaking teacher Mr. Belmont, who advises the Robotics Club with math teacher Mrs. Isola, said having knowledge and experience in STEM fields is more important than ever.
“As technology is getting more prominent in basically every aspect of life, there are always going to be jobs for people who know how to operate and interact with technology,” Belmont says. “Staying on top of the latest developments is a great way to ensure having a career in the future.”
Belmont said the Robotics and Environmental Clubs will continue visiting Liberty Science Center annually because it offers workshops that provide students with new and evolving learning opportunities.
“Every year, they offer different workshops, either similar to the previous ones or something completely different. It allows us to always have a different sort of approach,” Belmont said.
He said that, beyond the educational value, one of the most rewarding parts of the trip is seeing students actively engaged and excited about learning.
“I always am so excited to see the enthusiasm of the students who are there [and] the fact that they are actively participating,” said Belmont.
