Calling all builders

The first LEGO League Robotics Roundup Tournament, sponsored by the Pleasant Valley Education Foundation, will take place tomorrow, Nov. 7 at the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo. Twenty-six robotics teams from Ventura County and beyond will compete.

Opening ceremonies begin at 11 a.m. Judging and competition follow from 11:30 until late afternoon.

Admission is free and the public is welcome.

The theme is “Smart Move.” The teams of young engineers, scientists and programmers will design, build and program their LEGO Mindstorms NXT robots to perform as many of the transportation-related tasks as possible in a 2½-minute round.

In addition, the teams will research a transportation-based problem in the community and propose a solution.

The teams are comprised of three to 10 members ages 9 through 14. Camarillo and Somis have at least 20 teams, most of which are sponsored by the Pleasant Valley Education Foundation.

More than 13 elementary and middle schools are represented.

Teams will have opportunities to compete in qualifying and championship tournaments in November and December.

For more information, go to www.usfirst.org/ roboticsprograms/fll.

Sign up for academic Olympic

Every two years the Camarillo Academic Olympics provides an opportunity for students in grades four through eight in the Camarillo and Somis area to be recognized for their academic abilities.

Students may win a gold medal in art, creative writing, current events, science, English grammar, geography, U.S./California/world history, math or speech. They may compete in one to three subjects or try out for their school’s SuperQuiz Team, which will compete on the topic “Our 50 States.”

Students may register at their school from Nov. 9 through 20.

Get wild with local birds

The Conejo Valley Audubon Society will provide a variety of morning birding trips on most weekends in November. All trips are open to the public at no charge.

Rain will cancel some trips

For more information, call (805) 987-2721 or go to www .ConejoValleyAudubon.org.

CERT refresher course offered

The Ventura County Fire Department and CERT coordinators from communities around the county will be offering the first countywide training event for graduates of the Community Emergency Response Team program from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow, Nov. 7 at the fire department Regional Training Center at the Camarillo Airport, 102 Durley Ave.

The exercise is for program graduates only and is not open to the public.

The drill will provide refresher training in CERT modules covering search, rescue, fire suppression, medical triage and treatment. CERT members will locate and rescue volunteer “victims” who will be wearing makeup to simulate injuries.

For more information, go to www.fire.countyofventura.org.

Have lunch with Newcomers Club

The Camarillo Newcomers Club will meet on Thurs., Nov. 19 at Wedgewood Banquet Center, 5880 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura. Social time starts at 11 a.m., followed by a business meeting at 11:30 a.m. and lunch at noon.

Dancing group the Razzmatappers will perform.

Reservation deadline is Sat., Nov. 14. The cost is $18 for members and $20 for nonmembers.

Guests don’t need to be new to the area to join. Residents from all over Ventura County are welcome. Call (805) 482-0403 for reservations and (805) 484-3363 for club information.

Pesta named to dean’s list

Shannon Pesta of Camarillo has been named to the spring 2009 dean’s list at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

CLU students must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or greater in their academic subjects to qualify for the dean’s list.