TEAM 2960 OUTREACH

Applying the FIRST Core Value of IMPACT

FIRST exists to prepare the young people of today for the world of tomorrow. Team 2960 students take the skills they learn and give back in a variety of ways. We are especially committed to helping grow the STEM program district-wide, supporting the women in STEM movement, and partnering with adults with disabilities to support their microbusiness endeavors.

Supporting Other FRC Teams

Automation Nation makes friends wherever we go. Several years ago, we were introduced to the Beach Bums, 7692 out of Manoogian High School in Southfield. 7692 has a core group of dedicated students and two wonderful mentors. They originally came to us to get help with a few things here and there, and we ended up inviting them to come and work whenever they needed to. When 7692 comes to hang out in the shop, they feel like family.

Shortly after kick-off in 2025, Cranbrook Upper School decided to jump into FIRST Robotics. Their coach at that time was a teacher at Cranbrook and a mentor on 2960. Through this connection, Cranbrook reached out to us when they realized they might need some help. Students on 2960 answered the call. We have been helping Cranbrook get up to speed by providing them access to our student and mentor knowledge, as well as giving them access to our shop and field. We were excited for Cranbrook to win the Rookie All-Star award at the State Championship in 2025 and readily provided them help in getting their robot to the World Championship in Texas.

Automation Nation has a long standing friendship with Mech Warriors, 573 out of Brother Rice and Marian High School. They are right down the road from us. We love when they come to visit the shop because our robot has a friend to play with.

Giving Back & Growing the Love of Robotics

The Birmingham Education Foundation (BEF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Birmingham Public Schools. The BEF is also one of Team 2960's largest sponsors. Team 2960 partners with the BEF to showcase robotics as a way to help solicit donations for the BEF. Our FLL, FTC, and our FRC team try to make it to every school in the district to show how BEF dollars go to work helping students grow their potential and their imagination.

Co-Hosting a FRC Rookie Workshop

Team 2960 has a long-standing friendship with Team 573, Mech Warriors. This year, we teamed up with Mech Warriors to co-host a FRC Rookie Building Workshop. At the workshop, 12 rookie teams from all over Michigan learned how FIRST works and practiced the skills needed to build a robot.

Hosting and Running an Annual FTC OCCRA League Competition

Birmingham's four FTC teams participate in the OCCRA League. Each year, Team 2960 helps to host and run an OCCRA competition at Seaholm High School. Our mentors fill the role of referees and our students score the game and work on field reset.

Providing Support for Aspiring Female Engineers - BPS Girls in STEM

Automation Nation has partnered and mentored the Birmingham Public School's Girls in STEM program since 2019. Girls in STEM is a club that welcomes middle school girls from all of Birmingham's schools. Annually, Team 2960 invites the program to our lab for an evening of engineering. Students learn about CAD and using a laser printer, the girls all gain experience using power tools, and all have an opportunity to drive a robot.

We also host the Girls in STEM program during our OCCRA season. The girls come to Seaholm High School to watch our competition, have lunch with the team, and hear from female engineers.

Later in the school year, the Girls in STEM program invites our students to help run a Jimu robot-building event. During the Jimu Robot event, Team 2960 students spend time mentoring middle school girls as they get to experience building a robot for the first time.

Supporting FTC Teams

Students from Team 2960 provide technical support to our growing group of Middle School FIRST Technical Challenge Students. Birmingham has 4 FTC teams that operate out of both of our Middle Schools.

Growing FLL in Birmingham Public Schools

Over the summer, Team 2960 hosts FLL teams who want to get an early start on their season. We help teams organize to get started and provide a network of support for the adults running the teams. Automation Nation also helps run an FLL Explore tournament every year.

Partnering with the BATP

The BATP (Birmingham Adult Transition Program) is a unique school for adults with mild cognitive impairments, autism, or other developmental disabilities between the ages of 18-26. Students who attend the BATP must be recommended during their senior year of high school, have an IEP to participate, and not have taken their diploma upon the completion of high school. The purpose of the program is to provide continuing education in the areas of community access, pre-vocational skills, and life skills that some students need beyond high school.

Our current project involves recycling old wood into doorstops that the BATP students will beautify and sell as a part of their microbusiness enterprise.

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