We use FTC as offseason training, but seniors who have been in FIRST long enough are allowed to use this time for side projects.
I think one of the most important things to do is to keep the new people engaged as much as possible. Here are some suggestions that have worked well for us:
- Start each meeting with a round of Ninja or something similar.
- See if your sponsors would be willing to offer field trips for your team.
- Take the team to an offseason competition. It's great for team bonding, and, even though they didn't build the robot, the rookies will get a glimpse of what a FIRST competition looks like.