new team

[gblake]

Originally Posted by Jgreenwd1

any one know a good way of trying to start a new team? i was on a team in high school and had a blast and wanted to see how i could go about starting a team in the area. any ideas or tips would be awesome.

Sure,

Plant about about 6 FLL teams in elementary schools, nurture them as they grow into 2-3 VRC/FTC teams at middle schools, and then harvest the FRC team that develops either when the first couple of student cohorts enter high school, or when they are ready to graduate from FTC/VRC.

As the FRC team is gestating, be sure to pay special attention to ensuring the roots created by the FLL, VRC and FTC teams get sunk deeply into the fabric of the community; and that the vines that start to spread out from the core group (to create a broad base of (more) FLL/VRC/FTC teams) get plenty of attention too, so that they can take root.

Don't try to rush the processes. Growing upward too fast, or spreading out too much, can weaken core of the organism you are creating; and that can become fatal.

When the time comes to harvest the FRC fruit, I predict you will have a well-trained cadre of mentors, a business and political community that recognizes the value of flourishing STEM education opportunities, and students who are ready to grab onto the benefits of FRC with both hands. I predict a great "rookie" season.

On the other hand, you could try to create the team, the community support, the well-organized students, the mentors who have learned to work well with each other, and everything else, all in one big bang; and then pour lots of cash onto the result for 2-4 years. That can work out OK too.



Blake