Maker Faire
A yearly tradition for the Mechromancers, we participated in the annual Maker Faire in Orlando, Florida. Here, we had sample EV3s on display for those who were interested in possibly joining a First Lego League team. For any older students who were joining, we had our 2016-2017 season robot named Woody, who was very popular among those who wanted to test drive a First Tech Challenge robot that went to the World Championship. Finally, for the youngest kids, we demonstrated how to make simple catapults out of craft materials like rubber bands and Popsicle sticks. While we were there, we got to talk to and form connections with dozens of vendors and other FIRST teams. Overall, the event was successful and we look forward to what next year will bring!
Team Car Wash at 7-11
As a fundraiser as well as a way to spread the awareness of Hagerty Robotics, held a carwash. Not only did this carwash help us in our funds, but we met many people who were willing to know more about our team and Hagerty's robotics Programs. Although it was a lot of effort and hardwork, we had lots of fun and we were able to fill our goals with this outreach.
Girls in Aviation
Located at the Orlando Airport hangar, there were multiple STEM-related rotations we had the girls complete. In one rotation, the girls learned basic drag-and-drop programming using the EV3s. Once they mastered this, they grouped into teams of two or three to complete various setup challenges like a mini maze. In another rotation, groups of two to four students participated in a collaboration-based activity called Carla’s Ice Cream Shop. In this activity, teams must work together to design a robot that will complete all the challenges in a hypothetical scenario given to them. From drones to boats, we saw many different designs the girls had come up with, but most importantly we saw students working together. Finally, the girls could create a takeaway mini robot made from robot molds. This way, they could explore their creativity while creating a lasting reminder of what they learned.
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Carillon STEM Night
To kick off the year, we started by reaching out to younger members of the community. The goal of this event was to encourage younger minds to discover the worlds of STEM. We showed the kids some of our robots and gave them an opportunity to participate in a STEM-related activity. Students had the chance to drive a couple larger drivetrains as well as EV3s. The EV3s gave the opportunity for more control, while using the drivetrains allows elementary children to feel like FTC drivers. Many parents and scholars alike expressed interest in exploring robotics, either through our program or with other teams in the area. Overall, the goals of this Outreach event were met, and new connections were made through the youth in our community.
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