Re: Keeping Interest - Beyond the Robot
 

I think this is a very worthy topic. As a booster I like the robotics part of the team, but try to take the broader view that the team is a FIRST team first and the robot is only a means to our ends (though for about 3 months a year it seems like it's all about the robot.)

My favorite non robot activity in the past has been the team's entries in cardboard boat regattas. This summer the team is also planning to work on a Habitat for Humanity house.

I think any event that sets an attainable goal where members are involved in planning and building something that uses engineering principles fits well with FIRST. Ideally, if its fun like the regattas, it helps build the team.

Re: Keeping Interest - Beyond the Robot
 

Sorry for late entry to this thread. For us robotics is a year-round endeavor. We don't necessarily go beyond the robots, but we definitely go beyond the tournament. We’re involved with FVC, so some of our opportunities will be a bit different than those of FRC teams. However, I believe that FRC teams can benefit from is purchasing some Vex parts and using them to practice and prototype. Our calendar of last year looked like:

July- August
Fundraise for, drool over, select, and purchase Vex kits (50% off!)
Student: Discover a Vex hobbyist only 1-hour away. Visit and pester him for good ideas.
Mentor: Troll for interest in an FVC Championship. Attend planning meetings. Pester contacts to start/join a Vex team.

Sept.-Nov.
Begin meetings. Train students. Watch them come and go. Train more students.
Mentor FLL teams. Coordinate and volunteer for FLL tournament.
Begin work on FVC Challenge.
Plan events for local start-up FVC teams. (never came to fruition :( )

Dec.-Feb
Attend a scrimmage
Serious work on the robot.
E-mail teams met at FVC scrimmage with questions & suggestions.
Troll various Vex forums to gather information in preparation for competition.

March-April
Attend local Championship event. Advance to Atlanta.
Fundraise. Tweak robot.
Atlanta!

May-June
Assist another FVC team with their event for recruiting rookies to Vex.
Troll the internet for new ideas and designs.
Meet as a team in members’ homes to build from ideas on internet.
Invite another team to meet in our home to build from ideas on internet.
Assist at Vex demo at County fair.

Basically, if there is one very enthusiastic person (could this be you?!) who is willing to find various opportunities, the other members will often join in when invited. The further you're willing to travel (we often go 2 or more hours away), the more opportunities you'll find. The more contact you have with other teams and people in the community, the easier it is to see how being in FIRST is more than just the robot, even though the robot is what brings you together in the first place.

Re: Keeping Interest - Beyond the Robot
 

To put it as simple as possible....

Don't make FIRST about the robot.

or for my software inclined friends...

F != Robot
I != Robot
R != Robot
S != Robot
T != Robot

This can be easy.... or difficult... to do.

Re: Keeping Interest - Beyond the Robot
 

Easy to say, difficult to do! You can tell the team to act with gracious professionalism, but it's up for grabs as to whether they'll actually do it.

One thing that helps is for members to really get to know and enjoy some non-team members they meet at FIRST events; FIRST has some people of great character, and some great characters! We've found it easier to get to know people at less competitive events (non-tournament) like scrimmages and training/build sessions. But each type of event has its potential for character building -- competing at tournaments for learning how to graciously win and lose, running events for leadership and public service, assisting at events for supporting others and working behind the scenes.

And sometimes doing the right thing out of rote leads to greater things. We have the team shake hands with opponents, win or lose, as a team "duty". But I was thrilled to see them leave a note to one of the teams and wish them well as they advanced to the finals (when our team had been eliminated).