To lay people, the ideas and innerworkings of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) can be complex and foreign.

One Small Step for an Axolotl is a local independent robotics team whose mission is to inform, educate and advocate for the use of science and technology in the community. While they may be difficult to fully comprehend, what's important to know is that these cutting-edge concepts are indeed important.

"We want people to know that there's this amazing program called FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and that kids can explore the exciting worlds of robotics and STEM," said Janny Kim Lee, One Small Step for an Axolotl's coach. "We want people to know how great of a growth opportunity it is. We're trying to get more kids involved and more girls involved."

On Jan. 12, One Small Step for an Axolotl, which is made up of four Manheim Township School District students - juniors Isaac Link, Grant Lowther and William Lee and seventh-grader Elizabeth Lee - took top honors at a 30-team robotics event hosted at Manheim Township High School, the Blue Streaks Qualifier Tournament. The team, which bested entries from all over Pennsylvania, designed, built and programmed its own robot; responded to questions from judges about its design; and worked cooperatively with other robotics teams.

One Small Step for an Axolotl's performance qualified it for the Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge, which will be contested in Bellefonte on Saturday and Sunday, March 8 and 9.

"These are kids who are concerned about the world," said Janny. "They want to learn and figure things out. They want to make a difference. They have so much in them. They want to get better and better, and they want to help their community get better. They're giving back already."

As part of its mission, One Small Step for an Axolotl has donated 350 volunteer hours to promote STEM in the community. Included in the team's outreach work have been free robotics camps at the Manheim Township Community Library and community makerspaces.

"Within our mission, everyone has to contribute," said Janny. "(Team members) have learned to present and to teach kids. Each of them has a different personality. They've learned how hard it is to get sponsorships. If you asked the kids about the highlight of what they've learned, it would be the electric wiring of the robot. Now they're really good at it. The kids have learned so much, and we're still learning."

"Parents and the community can come together and form more teams," Janny. "That's one of our goals: to have more teams in Lancaster County. We try to connect with everyone. Everyone we meet, we try to talk about it."

"I love being a part of my local community through my robotics team," said Isaac, "because it lets me have a way to give back to my community."

"My favorite event was going to the Manheim Township Public Library and working with students who were enthusiastic about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math)," said Grant.

Other Lancaster County robotics teams are currently being sponsored by the Warwick School District, the School District of Lancaster and the Manheim Township School District.

"It's just such a well-rounded program," said Janny. "Sometimes the team members are referred to as 'the kids who ask too many questions.'"

William Lee founded One Small Step for an Axolotl in June of last year. An axolotl is an endangered species found in Mexico.

For additional information, email FTC25650@gmail.com.