When participating in the St. Joe Robotics FRC team, there are various opportunities for travel to competitions throughout the season, as well as offseason competitions. Traveling with the team is considered a privilege and should be respected accordingly. The following guidelines and rules are crucial to ensure student safety, accountability, and to alleviate stress for mentors. Students must follow travel guidelines, show accountability, prioritize safety, communicate and stay informed, and respect mentors.
By following these guidelines, students can contribute to a positive and successful travel experience for the entire team. It is important to remember that traveling with the team is a privilege, and each individual should uphold their responsibilities and commitments to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.
Travel with the Team - Get excused from class, ride with mentors, and stay in provided lodging. Students are under Mentor supervision for the duration of the event (from SJ to the event and back), unless a parent signs them out.
Travel with Family - Get excused from class if you meet the requirements, but be under the supervision of your family. Lodging, rides, and food will not be provided by the team unless it is planned with Morgan at least two weeks prior to the event.
Available in the menu dropdown or the buttons below is travel information for all Events and Travel Opportunities. Information for the previous year will be posted until the new information is made available.
Students are responsible for paying for travel. Throughout the year, opportunities are made available to earn money for travel. These are updated on the Fundraisers page. The amount that a student has in their account is available through the Student Dashboard. (Read more on how to use the dashboard here, or check out the folder where all this is housed.)
Berrien Springs Event - Free (if families sign up for meals)
Kentwood Event - $50-65 (Travel, Lodging, and Food Included)
State Championship - $75-100 (Travel, Lodging, and Food Included)
World Championship - $500-800 (Travel and Lodging included. Does not include food)
Remember traveling with the team is a privilege and you represent yourself, the team, the school and the community.
This is an opportunity to help the team, learn new things, meet new people and have fun!
Be on time and follow all school rules and Average Joe lodging rules.
Know the Emergency Plan
If you have any questions - ask!
After Bed Checks: This time also signifies lights out and quiet time. If you want to stay awake, please plan on a quiet activity. Bring headphones if you want to watch a movie, play games, or listen to music. Be respectful of others in your room.
Make sure you have talked to your teachers about missing class, and ensuring you are able to make up the work.
Clothes for each day (Clean Average Joes shirts are required for each day. One shirt is included with team registration each year, additional shirts are available for borrow or purchase)
Deodorant
Safety Glasses
Water Bottle with your name
Small bag (eg. draw string, no backpacks) to take into the event with a water bottle, book, phone, charger, etc. Please do not bring large items as they take up valuable space.
Cell Phone / Charger / Portable Phone Battery
Homework
Any activities
Good walking shoes
Swimsuit (not optional if you plan to swim) *Please note, not all hotels have a swimming pool
Anything against school rules (weapons, alcohol, tobacco, drugs (prescription medications you need are ok), etc.)
Expensive items - you are responsible for your own belongings.
Excessive luggage or unnecessary items.
Students are expected to know, understand, and follow all rules listed below. If there are questions, it is expected that you will reach out to Morgan for clarification.
You are to be in the stands or pits at all times, except for meals.
Scouting is crucial to the success of the team. Watch the matches carefully and help gather accurate data. You are responsible for knowing when you are scouting. Pay attention to the schedule and the time. You MUST be in the stands FIVE MINUTES BEFORE your shift starts.
Be on your best behavior at all times. Be kind, helpful, respectful, and have a positive attitude. You are representing the team, school, and community.
If your friends or family are at the event, you may give them a tour or explain the game and robotics to them, but you may not hang out socially, you are there to support the team.
You are not there to just hang out with other Joes. It is encouraged to meet other teams and make new friends, but your team responsibilities come first.
While we are competing in a match, you are not to be distracted (Phone, Switch, book, Rubik's cube, etc) or leave the competition area.
While in the stands, you can be on your phone (or Switch, book, Rubik's cube, etc) as long as it isn’t a distraction to scouting or to team activities, but you must watch and cheer during our matches. Students are not to use their phone excessively, and regular use after being asked to stop can result in disciplinary action, and may impact future travel with the team.
Show Spirit - Dance (if you feel comfortable) and cheer while in the stands. We cheer for alliance partners, clap for the opposing alliance (golf clap ok) and stand for all awards.
Pick up after yourselves in the stands. There will be trash bags in the snack baskets - use them.
If you meet a judge, be polite and introduce yourself. If they ask questions, answer the ones you know or if you don’t know the answer say something along the lines of “Let me introduce you to my friend ____ who can tell you more about that.”
If you are leaving with your parent from the event, both the parent and the student must visit a lead mentor (depends on event) and sign out their student prior to leaving.
While we are guests in the hotel, we are still representatives of the Average Joes, the community, and the school. We do not want to be banned from booking the hotels we like in the future. Be kind, courteous, and respectful of other people in the hotel.
There is absolutely ZERO TOLERANCE for any illegal substances. If you are found to have any at any time, your parents will be called, you will not be allowed to attend any other competitions, and you will forfeit all future participation on this team. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Students are more than welcome to hang out in other rooms, but:
if there is any other student in a room who is not assigned to that room, the door must be left open (the deadbolt out, shoe in the door, flip the lock bar, etc.)
if there is a visiting student from another room, there must be a minimum 3 students in that room. If you cannot find a 3rd, consider going to a communal space of the hotel (like the lobby).
Bed Checks will be communicated each day at dinner and possibly through BAND messages. It is based on when the pits closed, when we leave the venue, and team meeting times. You need to be in your room at Bed Checks. Once your room is "checked", you must stay in your room. (so plan ahead if you would like something from the vending machine or if you need ice). If you are caught sneaking out, we will have a looonggg conversation about your future of traveling with the team. (hint: it won't be good)
The pick list meeting happens the night before alliance selection. If it goes past Bed Check time, we will work it out. Don't worry too much.
Remember if there is a pool, it is a shared space with other hotel guests. Please be respectful of others, and make sure to clean up after yourself.
If the front desk calls and asks you to be quieter, be respectful of their wishes. We strive to have no noise complaints, but we all know that one person that complains a little excessively. We talk to the hotel staff about y'all's behavior.
Wake Up Time - make sure you are ready when it is time to go! It is you and your roomies responsibility to make sure you are ready when you need to be.
Final Morning - you must be packed and ready to go BEFORE breakfast. We will be checking out when we leave the final morning. We will not be going back to the hotel.
You MUST ride with your assigned vehicle to and from the competition venue and hotel. We understand that sometimes schedules change, and there may be temporary switches if needed, approved or organized by a coach.