CU*Answers Network Services, a leading provider of managed network services, today announced that in July it hosted a community Computer Aided Design (CAD) Camp for West Michigan-based FIRST Robotics teams. The three-day Camp was hosted at CU*Answers’ corporate headquarters in Grand Rapids, MI and was presented by Code Red Robotics instructors.

The objective of the Camp was to provide beginner computer aided design skills using PTC Creo commercial CAD software packages to assist in the design and manufacture of robots competing in FIRST events. The skills and techniques learned in the Camp are easily transferrable to other industries. Students were members of existing FIRST teams based in West Michigan, and ranged in age from middle school to high school.

“Hosting an event like CAD Camp is a natural fit for CU*Answers as many of our employees are already involved in volunteer organizations like FIRST,” explains David Wordhouse, VP of Network Technologies. “Credit unions are community organizations, as are most FIRST Robotics teams; so it only makes sense to work together to improve our communities. Working with these students is literally an investment in our collective futures.”

“We’re very grateful for our partnership with CU*Answers,” explains Ken Orzechowski, head coach of Code Red Robotics and board member of the Michigan FIRST organization. “The technical skills learned in these camps are in use in manufacturing, architecture, IT, data processing, and others. These students definitely are getting a leg up for college and entering the work force down the road.”

The Camp was offered to students at no charge. CU*Answers regularly hosts various community events including credit union board meetings, annual membership events, technology training camps, user groups, and other events.