[EmileH]

Following up, one thing that you can do as mentors to help with the participation issue is to inspire your students to want to come, that way they won't have to be required to come. You can do this by incorporating fun activities into each meeting (preferably during meetings where most of the team isn't busy) and recruiting social, yet skilled mentors who will build good relationships with your students. Training up leaders who are also servants and friends of the students is invaluable to any team. Long story short, if you can make the kids want to show up, they will put in the effort and try to make it to your meetings. I remember that I loved robotics so much I'd come as much as possible -- I know that's not the same for every student but the more you can get the better.

Hope this helps you out. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me.