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Outreach

Team 1816 recognizes that outreach helps further the FIRST mission of creating opportunities for students interested in careers in technology, science, math, and engineering.

Whether it’s mentoring other FIRST Robotics teams, introducing the FIRST Robotics program to new schools and students, or making presentations to the community-at-large, outreach is a vital component of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) program. Creating and participating in outreach events is expected of every FRC team and FRC team member and The Green Machine is no exception. Team 1816 recognizes that outreach helps further the FIRST mission of creating opportunities for students interested in careers in technology, science, math, and engineering. Throughout the year, Team 1816 participates in outreach events so this section will be regularly updated with reports on those activities.

The importance of outreach in the FIRST program is also evident in the hierarchy of awards at each regional competition tournament as well as the Championship event. The Chairman’s Award, the most prestigious award a team can earn, stems not from being on the winning alliance at a competition, but by reaching out beyond building a robot to the community-at-large. This honor is one that every FIRST team strives for because the team that wins it is recognized as having done the most to spread the ideals and goals of FIRST, by inspiring young people to become leaders in science and technology.

Throughout the year, our team will continue to update these pages with news of its outreach activities.

Outreach Events

Talking FIRST at the Great Minnesota Get Together

By Kirsten M., September 4, 2010
Outreach

Zazu at the Fair

Zazu at the Fair.
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Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816 went to the Minnesota State Fair on August 26 and team members did double duty. The Green Machine helped out at the FIRST Robotics booth that was part of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Day in Carousal Park, as well as took part in State Fair competitions held in the Education Building.

The Green Machine goes to Girl Scout Camp

By Kirsten M., July 16, 2010
Outreach

Mentoring Girl Scouts

Mentoring Girl Scouts.
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The Green Machine contributed several members as mentors to a Girl Scout Lego Robotics Camp, helping elementary-age Girl Scouts explore their interests in robotics. Girl Scouts from the Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys came together at Camp Lockeslea for three days of engineering using Lego pieces and mechanisms. The mentors, including Emily B, Clara L, Kristen M and Michael W, helped the girls learn many of the dos-and-don’ts of programming software and various Lego mechanisms, including a lift mechanism that could raise an object vertically. Everyone started by learning about basic building techniques and why some shapes and designs are stronger than others: Squares vs. triangles were of particular interest.

One World, One Community, One Team Aids Haiti Relief Efforts

By David F., May 30, 2010
Outreach

The goal was to pack 1.5 million meals in one day, and by the end of the event, it is estimated that more than 1.75 million meals were packed and ready for shipment.

Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816 contributed team members and mentors to the “One Community” food packing event staged by Feed My Starving Children to benefit Haiti. Packing of meals began at 6 pm on Friday May 21 and finished exactly 24 hours later on Saturday. The goal was to pack 1.5 million meals in one day, and by the end of the event, it is estimated that more than 1.75 million meals were packed and ready for shipment.

Spruce Up Day Yields Green Results

By Ken S., May 8, 2010
Outreach

The Green Machine devoted much of a day to helping cleanup and tidy the grounds of the Calvary Lutheran Church, Edina. It’s part of the team’s “Thank You” to church members for donating much needed meeting space during times when our regular meeting spots are not available. Team members pruned and trimmed trees, weeded and spread new mulch in garden areas, making the grounds more inviting and pleasant for all. Team 1816 thanks Calvary Lutheran Church for welcoming us this year and we look forward to another successful season.

Zeus Dazzles Tech Fest 2010 Visitors

By David F., March 6, 2010
Outreach

Visitors at Tech Fest

Visitors at Tech Fest
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With our 2010 robot, Zazu, on its way to the Wisconsin Regional, The Green Machine turned its attention back to its 2009 robot, Zeus, getting it ready for a day of spinning and dropping balls at this year’s Tech Fest. This special event, which attracted more than 2,000 visitors throughout the day February 27, is sponsored by The Works, a hands-on engineering museum Edina, in celebration of National Engineers Week. This year, the event was produced in conjunction with the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology.

Mentoring FIRST Lego League

By Amy Z., February 23, 2010
Outreach

The Green Machine once again devoted considerable hours with elementary and middle school students, working as mentors to the growing number of teams interested in FIRST robotics.

The Green Machine once again devoted considerable hours with elementary and middle school students, working as mentors to the growing number of teams interested in FIRST robotics. In addition to assisting the FIRST Tech Competition teams, members also spent time with three FIRST Lego League teams: The Golden Robots (teams 1 and 2), Cornelia Elementary School, and The NXT Generation (from The Works Museum).

SPARK Day showcases Team 1816 Mid-Build 2010

By David F., February 3, 2010
Outreach

SPARK Day

SPARK Day
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The Green Machine would like to thank everyone that turned out to SPARK Day 2010! SPARK (Sponsors, Parents, Appreciation, Recognition, and Kudos) is a way to help us show our appreciation for all that our parents, educators, sponsors, and supporters do to help make us a successful FIRST team. We hope that this was a fun and helpful experience. Throughout the day, Team 1816 members gave guided tours of workshop and classroom facilities to visitors, sponsors and supporters from throughout the community, including Edina City Council, Edina Board of Education, Dunwoody College of Technology, and even an entire Cub Scout troop! In Valley View room 165, visitors were treated to in-depth immersions into robot-style computer programming, animation, and CAD (Computer Aided Design).

3rd Annual Minnesota Splash Plays to Standing-Room Only Audiences

By David F., December 13, 2009
Outreach

More than 600 FRC team members, mentors and volunteers attended which is without a doubt the best turnout yet.

Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816-Green Machine, would like to thank all those who came to Minnesota Splash 2009. More than 600 FRC team members, mentors and volunteers attended the morning of FIRST-related seminars, which is without a doubt the best turnout yet. Teams from Montevideo, Silver Bay, Thief River Falls, Perham, Alexandria and Detroit Lakes all were in attendance, as were FRC teams from Iowa.

Flu Shots, Shopping, and FIRST Robots!

By Team 1816, October 17, 2009
Outreach

Southdale Robotics Showcase Area

Southdale Robotics Showcase Area
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Southdale Mall, Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816-The Green Machine thanks Minnesota FIRST teams Team 2169-KingTeC, Prior Lake and Team 2264-Trojans, Wayzata, for helping make the Southdale Robotics Showcase a huge success. Shoppers, guests, friends and families had fun throughout the day examining the competition robots up close, and some even tried their hand at driving the robots (under the watchful supervision of FIRST team members, of course)!

“The Showcase was meant to introduce the regular shoppers of the mall to the FIRST program and engage them directly in what we do," says Dan P., 1816’s Outreach Lead. “There is no better attraction than a 5-foot robot rolling down, dumping balls and scooping them up again.”

Green T-shirts, Green Hands

By Kirsten M., September 30, 2009
Outreach

Team 1816 recently adopted Braemar Park in Edina as part of the city’s Adopt-A-Park program.

The wearing of the green t-shirts continues to inspire a number of ‘going green’ activities by The Green Machine. Team 1816 recently adopted Braemar Park in Edina as part of the city’s Adopt-A-Park program. During this two-year commitment, the team will clean up the park twice a year, especially taking care of the areas around the baseball and soccer fields and playgrounds. Team members are planning the first clean up day on November 1.