[EricH]

Originally Posted by sunny69

Also, I've tried to look this up, but I have not found a clear answer. Do mentors go with the students to competitions?

I'll start with this one: YES.

At the regional events, mentors are needed by their teams as chaperones, extra manpower, and whatever else they are normally needed as. Also, usually of the four operators of the robot, one is allowed to be an adult mentor. (There is some debate about the merits and demerits of that allowance, but that's for another time and place--it's legal, and as a rookie team, you will want to use that.) A mentor is required for certain things--like registration at the event (just to be clear, that's more like "Hi, we're here, please give us the information packet that you have for us") and signing off on your robot's inspection form (saying that "Yes, we built this per the rules" after all the other stuff has been checked off).


Your tool-operating skill will probably be one of the most valuable things you can contribute to the team, second only to your presence in the shop and your training of others (read: students) on those machines.