Sustaining a FIRST Team

[daniel_dsouza]

Our team was started a few years before my time (2007). When inherited responsibility, I was left with a declining program, one that was sure to die you in a few years. At the time, we were partnered with another local high school, one that given it's condition and student population, would not be able to sustain a FIRST team by itself.

Our biggest problem is retention. I'll be happy when we don't go from 40 kids to 10 kids (including veterans!). For me, that is 30 kids who loose the excellent experience that is FIRST. Our solution to this problem, is to keep kids actively engaged. The three main reasons that kids drop out of our team is that: they cannot make meetings, they are inactive, and feel like they cannot learn what is required. We have solved this problem by providing challenges that build up to FRC. First we have FLL, where high-schoolers can earn NHS hours for mentoring middle-schoolers. Next we have VEX, where new members run the build season. Then FRC comes along, and the students are ready to go. This solves the learning curve and the inactivity problem. The scheduling problem is handled on a case by case basis.

For communication, a world where students do not check email is terrible. Facebook groups provide a easy platform to give out messages. Most kids have the app on their phones, and get notified immediately. Event planning and group messaging is also convenient.

As far as growth is concerned, the only workable solution we are pursuing is combining teams. We are combining our team, which has a stagnant growth but excellent resources, with another team with good growth that has lost its school. Combining both teams allows us to cover a larger territory, and provides more opportunity for growth into our community.

Parents are also a key to the problem. Living in an area where many jobs are provided by companies like Intel, Microchip (runs FIRST and VEX in Arizona), Google, Amazon, etc, they can understand the value of FIRST. Parents are often the source of inspiration, mentors, company relationships, free pizza, and ... funding (tax credit donations). We allow (urge) parents to join our Facebook group, and also include them in our weekly emails. They are encouraged to pop in during build season, watch, help, and provide moral support.

Ultimately, the problem can defined as a lack of inspiration. If a kid is inspired, they will check his/her email, and will show up to meetings. But until our programs inspire them, the burden is on the team to adapt to the uninspired masses. Otherwise, how else can a student adapt to a foreign environment, a new mindset?

Good luck to you, and we wish you the best for the 2014 (water) game!