"i.am.FIRST -- Science is Rock and Roll" airs August 14th

[rsisk]

OK, here is a direct report from the field.

We were presenting to the Riverside Rotary club today with two robots present. A lady walks in, her first question: "Are those FIRST robots?"

Then she continues that she had seen the special on TV Sunday and was hooked. She contacted the principal at her son's middle school and her son's scoutmaster and told them what she had seen and wanted their help to get involved.

Well, today she met us, and now we will be working with the school and the scout team to start a couple FLL teams.

Directly as a result of the special on Sunday and being prepared to bring someone new into the FIRST family.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by rsisk

OK, here is a direct report from the field.

We were presenting to the Riverside Rotary club today with two robots present. A lady walks in, her first question: "Are those FIRST robots?"

Then she continues that she had seen the special on TV Sunday and was hooked. She contacted the principal at her son's middle school and her son's scoutmaster and told them what she had seen and wanted their help to get involved.

Well, today she met us, and now we will be working with the school and the scout team to start a couple FLL teams.

Directly as a result of the special on Sunday and being prepared to bring someone new into the FIRST family.

mission accomplished.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by rsisk

...
Well, today she met us, and now we will be working with the school and the scout team to start a couple FLL teams.
...

Sound great except that I would recommend starting VRC or FTC teams for those ages.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by gblake

Sound great except that I would recommend starting VRC or FTC teams for those ages.

Depends on the age of the Scouts in question.

If it's a Cub Scout pack (8-10, IIRC), FLL would probably be a good fit. Webelos, too (10-11 years old).

But if you've got a Boy Scout troop (11-18), or a Venture crew (16?-21), then VRC, FTC, or possibly FRC would be the way to go.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by rsisk

A lady walks in, her first question: "Are those FIRST robots?"

Very cool.
Yes ma'am, they are.

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by EricH

But if you've got a Boy Scout troop (11-18), or a Venture crew (16?-21), then VRC, FTC, or possibly FRC would be the way to go.

Venturing starts at 14 (or 13, if they've completed 8th grade). Still at the age where they've outgrown FLL.



Way to go, rsisk.

[Walter Deitzler]

Originally Posted by EricH

Depends on the age of the Scouts in question.

If it's a Cub Scout pack (8-10, IIRC), FLL would probably be a good fit. Webelos, too (10-11 years old).

But if you've got a Boy Scout troop (11-18), or a Venture crew (16?-21), then VRC, FTC, or possibly FRC would be the way to go.

Venture Crew is 14-21

[dag0620]

By Scoutmaster I'm going to assume you meant regular Boy Scouts, and not Blue Loops or Green Shirts.

In that case you could go either way. I know in my troop the younger guys wouldn't quite ready for FTC yet however with the older boys the FLL ship has sailed.

If you did mean a Cub Scout Pack, FLL all the way.

As for Venturing, Obviously FTC, but honestly with funding I could see FRC. Unlike CS and BS, Venturing allows much more freedom with program and what one chooses to focus on. I could see a Venture Crews entire January February Program being based in FRC.

Either way good luck to that unit interested in starting a team. As a Scout myself, I can entertain the fact that many leadership and people skills I've learned in Scouts have come in mighty handy with FIRST.

Yours in FIRST and Scouting,

[Walter Deitzler]

Plus we see so many FIRST girl scout team (i.e the Space Cookies) it would be nice to also see some boy scout teams.

[Molten]

Am I the only one that gets chills reading this thread and realizing the impact of what is happening?

[rsisk]

Originally Posted by Molten

Am I the only one that gets chills reading this thread and realizing the impact of what is happening?

What do you mean? Good chills or bad?

[Molten]

Originally Posted by rsisk

What do you mean? Good chills or bad?

Good. I just get the feeling that what we experienced might have had great historical relevance. The sheer reach that this had and the impact that it might have made. Its really awe-inspiring really. It will be amazing to see the number of new teams next year and compare it to normal annual growth(which was always large). We had a roughly 14% growth in the number of teams in FRC last year. How much growth will we see this year? I wouldn't be surprised if it hits 30% just reading these stories. We all have something to look forward to.

Jason

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

I had multiple people come up to me at work and mention the special. I think it's going to be incredibly interesting to see the ripple effect from this TV special. It'd be very interesting to see how many rookie teams in the next few years for FLL, FTC and FRC started because their teacher or mentor saw the program.

It appears that FIRST is trying to track this type of information. There was mention of a Brandeis-commissioned longitudinal study of participants, in Bill's Blog-July 27.

[RayTurner1126]

Originally Posted by Molten

Am I the only one that gets chills reading this thread and realizing the impact of what is happening?

No, you're definitely not the only one

[davidthefat]

I was not there at the Championships, therefore I was not at the concert. But I can go by what was shown on TV. I think they should have sung "Where is the Love" over some of their song choices. It has a better message.