Nature's Fury Team Blast #2

I hope you're getting as excited as I am about the upcoming season!  I wanted to send off a quick email with some important updates for you.

You can always review these emails by visiting my blog at http://fllontario.blogspot.ca/ and subscribing.

In this email:

1. Field Setup Kits

2. Game Release Date

3. Upcoming Training

4. Tournament Registration

1. Field Setup Kits

Your Field Setup Kits (FSKs) are shipping if you have ordered them.  If you have coached before there is an important update to them...each model you have to build is individually bagged this year!!  This is great news and should speed up your building time considerably!  Just don't dump out all the bags and mix the pieces like you've likely done in previous years! :)

2. Game Release Date

Just a reminder that the FLL Nature's Fury game and project information will be released August 27th.  

3. Upcoming Training

FIRST LEGO League Headquarters sends coaches emails.  They also do coach training via conference calls.  These have already started and you can find more information on these calls at http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge/teamresources

FLL in Ontario will also be holding some additional online training and dates for those will be sent to you soon.  

If you are available, we will also have face-to-face training in Toronto at Crescent School on September 21st.  More details to follow soon (save the date!).

Lastly, we will have face-to-face training at St. Mildred's Lightbourne School in Oakville on October 5th.  More details on that to follow soon as well (save the date!).

4. Tournament Registration

I have had some questions regarding Tournament Registration recently.  Tournament registration will open after Thanksgiving Weekend and tournaments will take place at the end of November till mid- December.  A fee for the tournament venue you choose will be required at the time of registration (this is different from your own Team Registration Fee you paid to FIRST HQ.

Happy building!!

Dave

Dave Ellis
Director, FLL Ontario
FIRST Robotics Canada
www.firstroboticscanada.org

Fundraising Idea - Piggybackr!

Hello everyone,

I came across this company called Piggybackr which is an online way of fundraising for your team.  I have not used it personally but have spent some time looking through the material and it looks like it could be a great way for the children on the team to take an active role in raising funds to help pay for team expenses (robots, registration fees, travel expenses, etc.).

Here's a blurb from them:

Piggybackr is an online fundraising platform that empowers youth to raise support for their teams, causes, and schools. After the "fundraising team leader" sets up the team fundraising page, team members are invited to join the effort, and create fundraising pages of their own. The average donation on Piggybackr is $76, which they believe is so high because the ask comes from the youth participants themselves. Here's an example of what a robotics fundraiser looks like: https://www.piggybackr.com/team980/2013-robotics-student-challenge

To start fundraising: teams can visit Piggybackr, click the orange "Sign up" button, and then enter the invite code FLL2013 at the top right hand corner where it says "Enter code here!" Or if you'd like, you can set up a 10-minute call with Piggybackr Community Director, Brittany Murlas: brittany@piggybackr.com, 510-207-4913.

Here are two sheets you may find useful - an "About Us" page, and a page fundraisers can customize to give out to parents/kids.

Happy FUNdraising! :)

Nature's Fury Team Blast #1 - Registration is Open!!

Hello everyone!

Well, we have just returned from the FIRST World Festival where we saw some AMAZING FLL teams which were inspirational as they told us all about ways that they had solved real issues with which Seniors are dealing.  Of course, there is no stopping FLL and so we move right into the next season with FLL registration for the Nature's Fury season opening today.

Last year we were excited about the 10-year anniversary of FLL in Ontario.  This year, we are excited about the first-ever FLL International Open Championship coming to Toronto, ON, Canada!  This will be an event you WON'T want to miss.  What an exciting time to join the movement of changing our culture to one in which Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) is celebrated and where becoming a technology hero is something to which our kids will aspire!

To learn more about FLL, feel free to check out these sites:

• http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/thechallenge
• About FLL In Ontario

To join the movement and to register your team, go to: https://gofll.usfirst.org/.  Here's a video explaining HOW to register (including what to buy).

I am very excited to let you know that once again, FIRST Robotics Canada will be offering grants to support the growth of new teams.  If you are interested in starting an FLL team at your school or organizations, please review "How to start an FLL team".  There are additional links on that page which outlines time commitments and costs.

We have GRANTS available for the creation of new teams.  The actual document you need to submit to receive the funding can be downloaded from here.  Grants will be administered in a first-come first served manner and it is anticipated that they will go fast.

There will also be limited (30) grants for existing FLL and/or FRC teams to mentor a new FLL team so if you're an existing FLL team from one of our previous years and want to get a neighbouring school or community group involved and would like some money for your own team, FIRST Robotics Canada has set aside thirty $250 grants for FLL or FRC teams who would like to receive this grant (expectations of you as a mentor are outlined in the FLL Mentor Application and the FRC Mentor Application).

There will also be grants for Jr. FLL (for kids 6-9 years old) which will open for registration in August - for more information on Jr. FLL, please see www.jrfirstlegoleague.org.  Follow us on Twitter andFacebook, and/or FLL Ontario's Blog in order to receive immediate updates on the FLL and Jr. FLL funding as it becomes available.

Go FIRST!

Dave

Dave Ellis

Director, FLL Ontario

FIRST Robotics Canada

www.firstroboticscanada.org

Like us on Facebook, subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Twitter @CAN FIRST!

2013 FLL Nature's Fury Grants

Hello teams,

If you are looking for some help in offsetting costs associated with running a FIRST Team in Ontario we have some good news.

For new teams, we have this grant available.

• New Team Grant

NOTE: limit of one grant per organization/school.

If you are mentoring a new FLL team and you are a veteran FLL team or a veteran FRC team, you can also apply for these grants:

• FLL Mentor Grant
• FRC Mentor Grant (for mentoring FLL teams)

NOTE: limit of one grant per mentoring team.

If you have any questions regarding the grants (after reading through them) please feel free to email david.ellis@firstroboticscanada.org

Thanks and good luck!!

Dave

Sr. Solutions 2012 Team Blast #11

Hello teams,

Tournament Season is upon us!!  This is a very exciting time in Ontario as teams from all over the province who have been practicing hard (over the past 12 weeks since FLL released the game) come together in Coopertition to celebrate all that learning and compete against each other to see who will advance to the Provincial Championships!  NOTE: This year, for the first time ever, we will be physically splitting Ontario's Championship event into two events.  If you are attending an East Championship Qualifying event and advance to provincials, you will be attending the East Championships at UOIT on Saturday, January 12th, 2013.  If you are attending a West Championship Qualifying event and advance to provincials, you will be attending the West Championships at the University of Waterloo on Sunday, January 13th, 2013.

Below is a set of crucial information for you as you put together the final details for your qualifying event.  Please read it all thoroughly.

 

• Participant Surveys
• Advancement Criteria (read those rubrics!)
• FIRST's Consent Forms
• RDES
• 10 Member Rule

Participant Surveys

Each year we survey participants and coaches to see what impact FLL has had on the children.  This information is VITALLY important to the success of our program in many ways.  PLEASE take 5 minutes to fill out the Coach Survey and please also take the time before your event to have the kids fill in this Participant Survey.  A draw will be held after the events are over for 5 lucky winners from the Coaches and 5 luck winners from the Participants.  Prize winners will be announced and prizes will be mailed out after the draw.  The prizes are indicated at the end of the survey. :)

Advancement Criteria (read those rubrics!)

Please make sure to read (and have the kids read) the rubrics by which your team will be judged.  The expectation is that teams will speak to all of the items in rubric.  Judges should not have to dig with questions to uncover things that your team did in the various areas of their FLL season.  

Teams who advance to the Provincial Championships will do so based on the criteria for the "Champions Award" (the most prestigious award a team can win).  This criteria means that they are the best well-rounded teams at the event.  This could mean that the Robot Performance team does NOT advance to the Provincials.  It could also mean that a team that wins 1st Place Robot Design, 1st Place Project, or 1st Place Core Values does NOT advance to Provincials (if, for example their team only performs at a high level in one of those categories).  Lastly, it could mean that a team who doesn't win any award advances to Provincials (for example, a team who places 2nd in all three Core Award categories wouldn't win an award in a small event but could still be one of the best overall/well-rounded teams at the event).

FIRST's Consent Forms

Please make sure that everyone associated with your team (including coaches) brings a signed FIRST Consent and Release Form.  NOTE: this is above and beyond any trip permission forms your school may require you to have.  Participants without a signed form may NOT be allowed to compete.

Robot Design Executive Summary (RDES)

A reminder that the RDES will be expected in the Robot Design judging session. 

10 Member Rule

Another reminder that your team should be comprised of NO MORE THAN 10 children.  FIRST is very clear in many documents this year that teams with "more than ten team members at an event may not qualify for awards or advancement."  Please avoid disappointment for everyone and adhere to this rule.

I am very much looking forward to meeting some of you at upcoming events that I'll be attending and even more of you at one of our Provincial Championships in January!

Go FLL!

Dave

Sr. Solutions 2012 Team Blast #10

Hello teams,

In the following email you'll find information pertaining to:

• Tournament Registration
• Practice Tournaments
• Other Upcoming events and Training
  
• Important Clarifications
  

Tournament Registration:
Well now that Tournament Registration has come to a close I'm finalizing our tournament numbers and trying to squeeze in any last-minute teams to events.  If you're one of those teams who haven't registered for a tournament yet, please register at available events now (NOTE: some events are full and not accepting any additional teams).  Also, please note that if you are WEST of Toronto, you must register for a West event and if you are in Toronto or EAST of Toronto you must register for an East event.  Please look at a map to see where you are situated to ensure you register for the correct event. 

Practice Tournaments:
There are 4 practice tournaments planned for teams so far!  Please make sure to take advantage of these great opportunities for your team to prepare for the official event.  Meet other teams, try out your missions, have a run through of your project - they're fantastic!!  There an event in Waterloo, Oakville, Hamilton, and Toronto!  Further details can be found online at http://www.firstroboticscanada.org/main/practice-tournaments/  Thank you to those running these events for our teams!!

Other Upcoming events and Training:

• 3rd Annual FIRST Symposium at St. Mildred's Lightbourne School in Oakville (October 27th).  Details can be found here.
  
• Upcoming Training Webinars - register and participate from the comfort of your own home!  OR download & watch the video afterward.
  
• Please join us for Robots Rule! at the Ontario Science Centre taking place November 17-18.  Check out all the cool robots on display from fellow FLL teams to University robots and robots that are designed for outer-space!  Regular parking and OSC entrance fees apply.
  

Clarifications:

You received an email from FLL HQ last week regarding information about the Robot Design Executive Summary (RDES) and the Core Values Poster.  As mentioned in a previous email blast #6, we will be expecting teams to prepare an RDES for all of our Qualifying Tournaments and Provincial Championships this year.  It is a way to add some structure and consistency to the Robot Judging session.  You can find out more information about the RDES here.  We will NOT be using the Core Values Poster in Ontario Qualifying Tournaments nor at the Provincial Championships. 
Just a note that came up from a workshop that was held in September at the Kick-Off at Crescent.  One presentation highlighted how teams successfully use "leave-behind" attachments which do a certain task but are modules that are left behind by the basic robot as it goes on to do another mission (for an example, watch this video which was used by The Sentinels (World Champions in 2010, hailing from Ontario!!).  In this video, you'll notice that the robot starts off by shooting out a big attachment which activates a mission model in the middle of the table.  It leaves that module on the table and continues on to do other missions.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdQP8a0pAIE  The reason this came up this year was because the "Robot" was actually defined in the rules this year and there was some confusion over whether or not this strategy of "leave-behind" modules was allowable.  We have contacted game designer Scott Evans at FLL HQ to confirm, and YES, this IS an allowable strategy.  Have fun!
1. In case you've missed anything or want to check an old email, all previous Team Email Blasts from me are archived here: http://fllontario.blogspot.ca/
   

I hope you all have a great week with the kids!

Dave

Dave Ellis
Director, FLL Ontario
FIRST Robotics Canada
www.firstroboticscanada.org

Sr. Solutions 2012 Team Blast #9

Hello Coaches/Teams,

Welcome to Week 8 of FLL's Sr. Solutions Season!!  In this Team Blast we have the following:

• Tournament Registration
• Training
• Practice Events

Tournament Registration
Tournament Registration continues this week with the deadline being this Friday, October 19th.  I will be making phone calls to teams this week if you haven't registered yet to try to find out what your intentions are.  If you are not planning on competing at an official FLL Qualifying Tournament this year it would be very helpful to hear from you (please quote your Team # in the email).  If you ARE planning on competing but haven't registered yet, please do so as soon as possible and BY FRIDAY at the latest. 

IMPORTANT DATE CHANGE: The Ottawa tournament was mistakenly dated as December 8th. Please note that it is taking place on December 15th.  If you have signed up for the Ottawa event and are unable to attend on the 15th, please let me know ASAP.  You would be welcome at the Kingston event or any other East Championship Qualifier.

Training

• Waterloo Science Frontiers is Oct. 20th 1-3pm in E5-2004 at the University of Waterloo.  Open attendance.  Email Brad Morris (brad.morris.06@gmail.com) if you are interested in attending.
• St. Mildred's Lightbourne School's Symposium is on October 27th in Oakville.  RSVP by emailing frc771@gmail.com
• Online Webinar Schedule is posted here: http://www.firstroboticscanada.org/main/fll-ontario/coach-training-webinar-schedule-2012/ - This week's training includes:
  
• The Research Project: Tuesday, October 16th from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Register here.
• Robot Programming 101 - the Common Palette: Thursday, October 18th from 7-8:30 pm.  Register here.

Practice Events

• Waterloo Practice Tournament: November 10th 9am-1pm at KW Bilingual School. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and coaches have to email Brad Morris (brad.morris.06@gmail.com) directly to get a spot in the practice tournament.
  

• Trafalgar High School on Sunday, Nov. 11, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Registration will be $25 per team, due by Oct. 25.

Cheques should be made payable to Oakville Trafalgar High School.

Registration confirmation is due by Oct. 25, 2012.

Please contact Amy Hamilton at keith.atkinson@sympatico.ca

Send registration cheques to:

Amy Hamilton

154 King Street

Oakville, ON L6J 1B2

Have a great week!

Dave