Children from across central Pennsylvania battled it out Saturday during the annual FIRST Lego League Central PA Championship.

Thirty teams made up of third through sixth graders competed in the annual competition.

Teams had to build robots and program them to perform different tasks.

Event organizers said it’s a fun way to encourage children to learn about technology and spark an interest in S.T.E.M. careers.

“This is the next set of jobs that we’re going to have not only in Pennsylvania, but throughout the world. So, this is going to give those kids an advantage when they go to school for whatever job they want to do,” said Shawn Cerully, one of the event organizers.

The winning team will go to the world championship in Detroit.