An 8-year-old boy from Phoenix has earned a prestigious spot as a top contender in the world of LEGO builders. Tobias Camen snagged the third-place title at the Mini Master Model Builder Competition in North America, showcasing his detailed and creative rendition of the Sonoran desert. His LEGO artwork featured not only a kayaker on the Colorado River and a miner amidst Arizona's minerals but also a vulture gaining its height over a plastic representation of the state's famed Grand Canyon, according to a recent report by ABC15.
Educators and professionals are taking note that toys like LEGOS offer more than just play; they are a gateway to STEM skills, as pointed out by Delanie Dodge, a Master Model Builder at Legoland Discovery Center. "They're super cool," Tobias told ABC15, documenting his 17-hour journey to complete the construction. Competing against thousands of entries, the young Phoenix native crafted an example of what patience and precision can yield, complete with the mighty bird native to the U.S. Southeast corner, complementary passes to the local LEGOLAND were his reward.
Over on KTAR, the coverage shines a light on Tobias's innovative use of the iconic brick toy to represent Arizona's vast landscapes and symbols. His creation, titled "Camping in the Arizona Desert", earned him the state title before qualifying for national recognition. The young builder's work features various local elements like a saguaro cactus, a ring-tailed lemur, and a representation of the state flag, further enhancing the miniature scene's authenticity.
In the wake of his victory, Tobias expressed to ABC15 his professional aspirations, revealing a dream to someday walk the halls of LEGOLAND not as a visitor but as a creator. William Hicks, a 9-year-old from Texas, clinched the first-place position with his elaborate depiction of the Fort Worth Stockyards. Tobias, however, still earned a significant haul, bringing home annual passes for himself and his family to Legoland Discovery Center in Tempe. As these young minds mesh bricks and build dreams, they lay the foundations for tomorrow's science and engineering innovation.
LEGOs, as summarized by Dodge in a statement obtained by ABC15, facilitate "secret math" – the inconspicuous learning of basic arithmetic, hidden beneath the guise of play. With a new competition on the horizon in August that offers exclusive sessions with expert LEGO builders, Tobias and his peers stand at the cusps of intellectual creativity, grasping not just bricks but concepts that will define their intellectual pursuits for years to come. "Three plates equal one brick, you start doing a lot of math without you knowing," she said, elucidating the much deeper lessons that are built, one LEGO at a time.
