Recruiting

[Tom I]

I can quite sympathize with you, as it has happened to my team once before! Lets put it this way, I was one of the people in the new wave after the drought! And seeing as how I'm a senior, some people are worried what happens in my and my classmates' absence. But I'm not worried too much.

What we do every year is we actually bring our robot to the school and show off in our annual Club Fair at the beginning of each school year. We aim for all age levels. Freshman normally get us the largest time return and are normally easier to catch, but they normally have little previous knowledge of robots, so it takes a while to get them up to speed. Older kids normally are a little more competent, but they are harder to come by since they are normally involved with enough other stuff.

Good luck to your recruiting process and happy huntings!

[IBdrummer]

How about doing demos of your robots during lunch or something if your school will allow it? If your older robots work its a great way to get students interested in the program.

Nothing like being surprised by a 120 lb robot before grabbing a slice of pizza

[dragonrulr288]

we ran around our robot in school (not the one for this year, the ones for our in team compitition). its really fun to see peoples reaction when a 50 lb robot rolls by you while you are standing at your locker ^^

[theDiva]

Thanks guys!

I'll try to implement your suggestions. For the presentations to middle school students, would it be better to present in a smaller, more intimate classroom setting or an all-inclusive, larger setting in the gym which seats the entire school?

As far as driving the robot around the school, I like the idea. But I'm afraid our high school's administration might not They're usually pretty strict.

We can present at pep assemblies though. Our problem is that we haven't been able to spark much enthusiasm for our robotics team (our state-finalist varsity football team usually gets all the attention )

Thanks so much!

[Meredith Novak]

Originally Posted by theDiva

For the presentations to middle school students, would it be better to present in a smaller, more intimate classroom setting or an all-inclusive, larger setting in the gym which seats the entire school?

We have done both types, but I much prefer a classroom setting. I personally go to the Jr. High and spend the entire day doing demonstrations to classrooms. It is exhausting! But it gives the students an opportunity to ask questions as well as examine and drive the robot and it is much easier to get their attention.

[scottydoh]

Originally Posted by Meredith Novak

We find it almost impossible to interest the students enough to join after they are in high school - they all are already "owned" by some other program/sport.

I agree, its actually pretty sad, high school students just don't seem to get what we do. The few times that we have given presentations at the high school level, we were made fun of, and our presentation was taken as a joke.

Originally Posted by theDiva

I'll try to implement your suggestions. For the presentations to middle school students, would it be better to present in a smaller, more intimate classroom setting or an all-inclusive, larger setting in the gym which seats the entire school?

810 has had great success giving presentations at our local middle schools, as well as boy scouts and even elementary schools. We usually do our presentations in groups on one to two classes so approx. 20-40 kids at a time