[OScubed]

FIRST rather than saying The Negative, I'd label this thread as room for improvement

My comment applies to the World competition in Atlanta to a large extent, but also to regional events as a whole.

I would suggest that you create a more robust seminar program - targeted more at kids - that is not "for pay" above and beyond the entry fee, though you could limit the number attending from each team.

Have the seminars be put on BY KIDS not by mentors, and have it concentrate on the various aspects of engineering a robot. Give the kids a chance to shine and show their engineering brilliance, while teaching others how they succeeded - without it having to go on in the pit.

While there is a lot to do in the pits and for the drive team, many schools bring ALL their kids, and - beyond scouting and fetch and carry - it would be great if each FIRST event featured something for the kids to learn or do who are NOT part of the direct pitcrew/drive team. We found things, but having some of the kids present and/or attend conferences on the topics mentioned above might well have been a great experience for them.

Most of the events that were educational were well attended when they applied to students (autodesk for instance).

Perhaps as part of next year's "mission" shared educational material might well be a part of next year's event. Each team can compete for a slot to do their presentation at regionals, and the top presentations are given at nationals with a prize attached.

Finally it might help if seminars were labeled as "FOR STUDENTS" or "FOR ADULTS" (not that you couldn't cross over if you were interested, just that it would be good to know who the target audience is before committing an hour to sit in on a seminar).