PORT COLBORNE — Mini golf at Dawg’s Burgers and Fries was a little more mechanical than normal last Wednesday.

The Port Colborne location played host to a final exam of sorts for a summer reach-ahead program offered out of Port Colborne High School in robotics last week as 22 students visited to test out their team-designed robots created with one purpose in mind, to move a golf ball to its final destination, the hole on the green.

“Essentially the students can get a credit before they are even in high school,” said teacher Grant Tenden, explaining the month-long 110-hour program offers a high school credit to students in Grades 7, 8 and 9.

The robotics program, he explained, focuses on design principals such as prototyping, fabrication, problem solving, mechanics, electrical principles and programming.

“It gives them an educational opportunity they can’t get in their own schools,” said Tenden, explaining for younger students it also provides a glimpse into high school life.

“It alleviates the anxiety coming from Grade 7 and 8,” he said, noting students came from as far a Dunville and Welland for the program.

“this gives kids a huge advantage,” said Tenden, noting Port High also offered gym credits this summer.