[YL] INVITATION: FIRST Robotics at Naval Academy, Annapolis

[Janet Lathan]

In the Maryland and DC area, we are working to get students interested in
robotics.  As they participate in builds and competitions,  we hope to have
students become more interested in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM), do better in school, and have more options for careers.

I am writing you about FIRST Robotics. (For Inspiration and Recognition of
Science and Technology) http://www.usfirst.org

You may have already heard a lot about us, or we may be new to you,  but I
would like the opportunity to talk with you about encouraging youth to be
interested in the STEM subjects through robotics. 

I would also like to invite you to visit the Chesapeake Regional FRC (FIRST
Robotics Competition) which will take place Thursday-Saturday, March 15-17,
2007 at the Halsey Field House, U S Naval Academy.  

In the 2007 game, "Rack 'N' Roll," students' robots are designed to hang
inflated colored tubes on pegs on a 10-foot high center "rack" structure.
Extra points are scored by robots being in their home zone and lifted more
than 4" off the floor by another robot before the end of the 2 minutes and
15 second match. The high-school age teams and their mentors have had 6
weeks to build a robot which will compete at the Naval Academy in Annapolis-
(24 MD teams, 6 DC teams, 7 NJ teams, 7 PA teams, 5 VA teams, 3 teams from
UK (1 from London, 2 others from northern England.)) 

See the following website for more information:   www.chesapeakefirst.org

FIRST now has four robotics programs which serve youth from 6 years old
through high school. In addition to the very successful FRC (FIRST Robotics
Competition) and FLL (FIRST LEGO League) two programs have been added: the
FVC (FIRST VEX Challenge) and JFLL (Junior FIRST LEGO League).  I would be
glad to discuss these programs with you, especially VEX and teaching
programming through VEX.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss robotics, FIRST, and how we
can help more youth succeed in the vital STEM disciplines.  If you are
interested in keeping in touch through email, we have a moderated mailing
list for people interested in robotics and youth called DCRobotics.  Let me
know if you are interested and I will add you to the list.

I hope that you will help us work to fulfill the goal of FIRST's founder,
Dean Kaman:
"...to create a world where science and technology are celebrated... where
young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes..."    

Hoping to see you at FRC at the Naval Academy this coming weekend and/or
hearing from you by phone or email.

Janet Lathan

A mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited--Plutarch 
Janet Rhodes Lathan
240-393-1464
FIRST Senior Mentor-Washington, DC Metro Area
Educational Specialist & Math & Computer Activist 
Chair of CPCUG Robotics SIG and CPCUG VP for DC

 



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