School Regcognition

[SenorZ]

Our team has silent support and recognition on our campus. People say, "Oh, that robotics team is neat. Wait is it like battlebots?"

I've invited (as a teacher) my admin to visit our meetings. I think I've had one visit, and it produced a, "Wow, great job guys!", and nothing else.

We've done pep rallies and Club Rush events, and it pulls in a few kids who stick around.

In the end, FRC is a complex, complicated, and difficult looking activity... and looks are NOT deceiving. FRC is for a select few dedicated students who can balance their coursework, robotics, and family/social life well. Large public events are decent at gaining some attention, but student members talking to others on campus, face-to-face, is the best way to increase exposure.

[just think, do you really know that much about what the football team does everyday based on a pep rally? or even going to a game? Not really]

[FrankJ]

If you want school support, it is a constant sales job. Emphasize the stem backbone of the robot club. Track what happens to the graduates of the robot club. The ones that go to college. Scholarships earned. The success of the ones that do not go to college. You are always in competition for scarce resources.

[RoboChair]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

If you want school support, it is a constant sales job. Emphasize the stem backbone of the robot club. Track what happens to the graduates of the robot club. The ones that go to college. Scholarships earned. The success of the ones that do not go to college. You are always in competition for scarce resources.

I would strongly discourage the use of the word "Club", Clubs get less money and resources than Teams do. We stopped calling ourselves a club many years ago and have been taken more seriously since(even before we started getting awards and winning).

[MaGiC_PiKaChU]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

FRC is for a select few dedicated students who can balance their coursework, robotics, and family/social life well.

I think I missed that part of the contract...

[Trevor1523]

I definitely see what you mean about not having enough recognition. The team I am currently on is a combination of 3 different schools, all being in the same area. From each school we have about 9-10 kids (28 students on the team total).

When I tell people at my school I am on a robotics team and going to competition in another city, they do the whole "We have a robotics team" bit. Our school recognition (at my school at least) is so terrible that when I was searching for an extracurricular activity through my school guidance counselor I had a list of the school activities printed online and I asked him about the robotics team, and where do they meet. He looked at me and said "We have a robotics team?"

So something that may be looking into would be reaching out to other schools, trying to recruit more members. If we were only one school we'd be in the same boat as you guys.

[Ari423]

Originally Posted by Trevor1523

So something that may be looking into would be reaching out to other schools, trying to recruit more members. If we were only one school we'd be in the same boat as you guys.

We actually used to be a combined team of three nearby schools, but two of the three schools have left the joint team (one completely quit and one moved to FTC). I think the fact that we were from more than one school from '99 until last year may be part of the reason why we aren't as well known in our current school. We only had 2 kids from the other school in the past 4 years, but we couldn't "market" ourselves as our school's team. Now that we are only one school, we are debating changing the team name/symbol/colors to better reflect our school mascot and colors (Simple Machines have nothing to do with Panthers), which will hopefully make it a little more obvious that the team is a part of the school.

I started this thread not as much for recruitment advice (although we could use some of that too) but more for what teams do in their school community to create awareness of their team. I have heard that some teams go to every science class and give a short demo or that some teams are considered varsity sports in their school. I would like to know what other kind of things teams do and whether or not they worked, especially teams that are in the same boat as us and have overcome it to be recognized by their school and community.

We are currently planning an exhibition event (yet to be named) in the fall for nearby teams to come to our high school and show off their robots. If we get enough teams and field pieces we will be playing matches of Recycle Rush (I know it's not the most entertaining game but its the only fully functional robot we have). The goal is to get kids to realize FIRST isn't just a few nerds in the basements of far away schools, but it is fun and very much in their community. We are lucky enough to be in a densely populated area as far as FRC teams go, so we are hoping to have a number of teams attend. Any advice on this event (or if you want to attend) or advice on outreach to the school in general is greatly appreciated.

[Trevor1523]

Originally Posted by Ari423

I started this thread not as much for recruitment advice (although we could use some of that too) but more for what teams do in their school community to create awareness of their team. I have heard that some teams go to every science class and give a short demo or that some teams are considered varsity sports in their school. I would like to know what other kind of things teams do and whether or not they worked, especially teams that are in the same boat as us and have overcome it to be recognized by their school and community.

Something that we are doing/have already done is going to Freshman orientation at each of the 3 schools. This is usually a great way to get incoming freshman to join the team.

We do demonstrations at Science Museums.

Another thing we do is similar to what you said about going to the science classes, but my high school has an engineering program that you can enroll in. We usually take a day and show off the robot for all the classes. And this is how probably 8/10 people joined my team from the school.

We also *attempt* to promote ourselves through the school's morning announcements, but we haven't done that in the past years.

[Monochron]

I would say that a good start would be to get a meeting with multiple of your school administrators. Principle, Asst. Principle, Office managers, counselors, etc. and tell them what you told us. They can help in ways such as adding your team to the announcements, putting the team in printed material, and other "official" recognition. Preferably talk to as many of them as you can and get them to agree to help with your recognition problem (that may be a much easier thing to get them to agree to than giving you money)

Look around at the other teams and clubs at your school that DO have recognition. Are there signs about them in the hallways or on buildings? Are they often mentioned during weekly announcements? Are they mentioned in email blasts to parents or students? How do they get their recognition at Pep Rallies? (my school used to announce each team that came onto the floor, make sure you are part of that announcement!)

The first step of getting that stuff done is to get buy-in from the school administration and then KEEP ON THEM until the school publications are including your team regularly. make sure you don't just that task over the wall to them, work closely with them to build that recognition.

[jvriezen]

Another key way to get decision makers on board is to invite them to attend a regional (and offer to drive them if it is any distance away!) Once they see a regional (or district event) they'll much better appreciate the program.

[Trevor1523]

Originally Posted by Trevor1523

Something that we are doing/have already done is going to Freshman orientation at each of the 3 schools. This is usually a great way to get incoming freshman to join the team.

We did this at one of the 3 schools this evening with our 2014 bot as a demo robot, we managed 7 people to sign up for next year.

I think that it's safe to say that a lot of the people will never be seen in the 2016 season, but it's a start.

[Max Boord]

One of the things I have done in the past to raise awareness of our team was to create several different videos using match and shop video shot in the previous seasons. these videos would be played on our school's morning announcements as well as posted to YouTube and social media. While there primary purpose was recruitment, by playing one every day for a week, most school administrators and almost every student was at least made aware of the existence of the team.

On 1065 our teams existence is spread throughout the school by our schools news, and team pictures posted to our school district's homepage after winning an award or competition. An easy way to improve team awareness is to make sure to advertise with clarity. Are you trying to be a team or a club or both? 1065 makes it clear we are a club that designs and builds 2 robots 1-2 days a week between January and March with the intention of competing at 2-4 competitions. Another effective advertising tool is having well designed team shirt that members are ok with wearing around the school. These, combined with posters detailing what your team does, can provide year round reminder of your teams existence along with information on how to join.

[FrankJ]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

...
In the end, FRC is a complex, complicated, and difficult looking activity... and looks are NOT deceiving. FRC is for a select few dedicated students who can balance their coursework, robotics, and family/social life well. ...

Realize band cult & varsity sport puts the same demands on time.

One of the goals of the FIRST experience is to teach that although STEM can be demanding, the rewards are real & in reach of most that put forth the effort. We try to teach the skills needed to be successful.

Originally Posted by RoboChair

I would strongly discourage the use of the word "Club", Clubs get less money and resources than Teams do. We stopped calling ourselves a club many years ago and have been taken more seriously since(even before we started getting awards and winning).

My bad. Yes emphasis team & the competitive aspect.

[The other Gabe]

Havent read the full thread yet due to time limits, so sorry if this is redundant. if you want your community to get to know you, you have to be everywhere. Outreach is so important for recognition, and it can be hard to do with a small team, unless you have a few members who are very dedicated. Our team goes to a local fair & parade every year, is at orientation, gets on the announcements around the time of our first open meeting, brings the robot to lunches, and uses word of mouth to spread the word of our team, and of FIRST. Winning helps too: whether it's a quality award or a blue banner, something you can show off in a classroom or trophy case is a constant subtle reminder of your existence. once you're known, it is far easier to inspire.

Originally Posted by Ari423

Now that we are only one school, we are debating changing the team name/symbol/colors to better reflect our school mascot and colors (Simple Machines have nothing to do with Panthers), which will hopefully make it a little more obvious that the team is a part of the school.

That could be a good idea

Originally Posted by FrankJ

band cult

you pray using your instrument as an idol one time, and it stays with you forever

[jvriezen]

Its time to start taking names. Seriously, whenever you have an outreach event, (middle school, start of year activity fair, etc.) make sure you have a laptop or paper sheets to take names and contact information. A laptop can be better because unreadable handwriting is not an issue.

In addition to name and contact information, collect interest:

• Will consider donating $ to team (may want to know more)
• Will consider donating goods/services to team
• Will consider joining team
• Will consider having their child join the team
• Will consider volunteering at a FIRST event.
• Will consider mentoring the team.
• Will consider funding an FRC Regional (have them contact me )

Then retain the information and follow up at appropriate times.

Also, put up posters around the school (may need permission) and hold an informational, no commitment required, meeting so people can understand more of what it is about.

[nickyflash]

Our team comes from one all-girls' school, and you won't believe how difficult it is to recruit people. The good part, however, is that the people we recruit are extremely loyal to the team.

Our Robotics team is at almost every single school event, especially the ones involving parents. Really though, I've found that the easiest way to recruit people is to get people to invite their own friends to the team, or to demo our robot.