Spreading the word!

Being in FIRST is not only a good challenge, but it is lots of fun. It should be experienced by others, so we look for opportunities to show people in the community the fun that FIRST can bring. For example, in the summer our team participates in the 24-hour cancer awareness event, Relay For Life. The team raised $1000 by giving robot driving lessons and selling robotic bugs. We also raised money for cancer awareness by participating in a Bowl-a-Thon. The team assisted at the Angels' Place Race, which raised money for people with disabilities. The Juggernauts have participated in the YES! Expo at Ford Field in Detroit, where local FIRST robotics teams set up the previous FIRST game and let attendees drive our robots and feel what it's like to participate in robotics. Our team had displays at the annual Woodward Dream Cruise where members of our community learned about robotics and had the chance to drive our robot. This winter, we participated in the Rochester Holiday Parade with other FRC teams. It was televised, so not only the attendees were exposed to FIRST, but people all over our area. To inspire the next generation to pursue science and technology, our team visits schools around the area. On a reoccurring basis, the Juggernauts have visited Longfellow Elementary School on career day to give students an idea of an engineer's work by having hands-on science demonstrations and displaying our robot. To help local Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops earn their Scientist badge, we gave the scouts demonstrations of scientific principles, letting them do the demos themselves until they learned it. Last year, our team visited Clawson High School and gave them a presentation about FIRST robotics. This presentation convinced the school to form the FRC team #3302, and they competed in FIRST, making it to the state competition. Twice last year, the Juggernauts gave presentations at Wayne State University about the physics principles tied to robotics. Our first presentation was for the Detroit Metropolitan Area Physics Teachers and their families who were celebrating their 50th anniversary. We informed them how physics in robotics can be taught in the classroom. Our second visit was directed towards local high school students to promote science and technology careers. We had a unique opportunity this fall to attend the 15th annual Urban Wheels Awards ceremony in Detroit. The Juggernauts were a part of this event, impressing local business leaders and politicians with how FIRST has impacted our team and our community. The Juggernauts also helped our hometown by cleaning up lots along a stretch of road during the Auburn Clean-Up.