Re: We need a second build season
 

We do BEST also, and have done quite well in it. We enjoy it a lot, and it is a great learing tool for new kids to the robotics team. We also participate in BotBall. And Vex is also always fun.

Re: We need a second build season
 

Have you considered driver training during the offseason using the funnest things to drive on earth?

RC!
www.towerhobbies.com
They even have robots. Whee!

Re: We need a second build season
 

Honestly, after one season, I'm burnt out on programming for a month or two, then I start working on projects that we might do things similar to next year.

Re: We need a second build season
 

I understand the initial purpose of this thread but I would just like to present this thought.

The 2nd build season is the season of building the team. Time well spent.
Building the team occurs during the intense build after Kick Off and into the competition season, that is true - but team building at others times as well, can be fun, creative, developmental, and worthwhile. It can be through outreach (my personal biggie), fundraising - always needed and fun to do, team building events, off season events/competitions, promotional development, demonstrations to sponsors, future sponsors, future team members, community centers. This, to me, is the 2nd build season. Whenever you can fit it in. :) Just a thought.
Jane

Re: We need a second build season
 

That's very much how my team thinks. We'll try to do many or all of those things during the "off season" where we're not designing/building the robot.

This year is different, however. :) We're building another robot for a future team to use at the IRI. We plan to use this time for the seniors to pass on the knowledge they have obtained over the years to new members. They won't touch the robot, but they will instruct us. This will especially help the students who will be joining the team in May. Everyone will benefit.

Re: We need a second build season
 

For our team, the seniors started SECOND (seniors combating nothing to do). It is like a mini-season with kick-off at 6:30 and a deadline to build a robot to respond to a game.

Re: We need a second build season
 

Thank God for OCCRA then,

Re: We need a second build season
 

Agreed. :)

Re: We need a second build season
 

The FIRST sponsored Green Machine Competition or FIRST fuel cell rather; was basically a second build season for us. It started right before FRC build season and even overlapped into the first couple weeks. It was a lot to handle in addition to training all of your recruits to get them ready for build.

when you use offseason to do things like (just to name a few):
-introducing freshmen to VEX
-teaching recruits how to machine and such
-working on/finishing up offseason projects
-working on scheduling and setting dates
-fundraising
-volunteer work


It would be quite a challenge to have a second batch of 6 weeks of build. Of course i get that everyone would love a challenge to try to do it all; but honestly, thats a lot you're going to have less valuable time for.

Re: We need a second build season
 

In case anyone hasn't noticed, this is a rez of a thread from 2006.

Re: We need a second build season
 

Looking for something to do?
In this geographic area, there are demos almost every week at some event for the next couple of months. This Sat. it's "RobotFest" at Northrop Grumman. Space Day at the Air and Space Museum. Women and Minorities in Engineering and Manufacturing. Sally Ride Space Festival Day.
Get out there and do demonstrations.

FLL opens next week. Think about helping start a FLL team.

And then there is the "off-season." http://www.firstnemo.org/calendar.htm

Re: We need a second build season
 

Luckily (sort of) we're still working on stuff. We're making a few contraptions for relay for Life events and car-washes and the such. Plus we're going to be starting our off-season project soon.
With FIRST, our season never ends. I would suggest making things and going to events (like Relay for example) or maybe making something with old robot parts. Thats always fun.

Re: We need a second build season
 

If you were to build an all wood robot in the fall, you could use it as a piece of fire wood for a special occasion once the wood contracted in the winter.