Ideas for the summer

[RyanCahoon]

For the morale side of things, here's a couple of ideas:

-- Decide on ideas for projects before school gets out (if it hasn't already) and announce the ideas to the team. If you can, try to include a bit of "gee whiz" factor (i.e. something that the new students will readily understand will make the finished product really cool) so that the students will have motivation to stick around. This may mean thinking up more of a project than just trying a certain kind of drivetrain. Think of a project that could integrate that drivetrain (or gyro stabilization, or lifting mechanisms) instead; you'll still get the practice, but it will be more attractive.

-- The fact that you have dedicated older members is fantastic, you're in a very good position. An idea would be to assign each of your new students to one of the more experienced members. Tell them they'll be partners for the summer and will be working together. Just make clear to the veterans that the new person isn't there to just be a lacky, they should be showing them how to do things, and more importantly letting them do the work themselves when they are able. The idea here is to encourage some of your experienced to take on a bit of a mentor role. Hopefully they'll like it enough that they'll come back and help out even after they're in college. But you can also let them know this doesn't mean they can't have any of the fun themselves. Encourage them to work on the more advanced parts that maybe the new students aren't quite ready for yet; that way, the veterans and the rookies hopefully won't get in each others' way.

Good luck,
--Ryan