Outreach
Outreach Efforts
Design, Engineering, & Manufacturing Summer Camp (Camp DEM)
Team 5900 is focused on developing STEM skills within the team and also for the next generation of students who will follow in our footsteps. To that end, our team partners with area companies and education partners to conduct a summer camp for middle school students (grades 6-8) during June of each year. The four-day camp is designed to expose students to STEM activities related to careers in the floorcovering industry and other manufacturing companies. The camp also desires to grow the number of female students who explore STEM related careers and pathways. Camp DEM is sponsored by approximately 24 local businesses and is free to the students. Activities include designing and fabricating a race car using CAD software, operating a 3-D printer, creating electronic circuit boards from schematics, programming, laser engraving, designing and constructing a hovercraft, understanding and building rockets, Lego robotics, completing various chemistry activities, creating a custom carpet design, and many other activities. Students tour local advanced manufacturing operations and also complete soft skills activities.
Each year, members of Team 5900 facilitate labs and soft-skill activities to teach the students technical and life skills. Since its inception, almost 1000 students have completed the camp. Additionally, three neighboring communities (Gordon County, Floyd County, and Catoosa County) have started summer STEM camps based on this concept.
Getting FIRST® Robotics Approved as a CTSO -- Promoting the Growth of FIRST® in Georgia
In June 2016, thanks to the efforts of Team 5900, staff from Georgia FIRST®, and others, the State of Georgia achieved a first in FIRST® -- supporting FIRST® Robotics Competition teams as a state recognized Career Tech Student Organizations (CTSO). Given that teachers can easily spend as much 500 to 1,000 hours a year supporting a team, this is a great first step in sending a strong message that supporting teachers is an important task.
The CTSO list is the primary document that school systems consult for what they should consider implementing. While other robotics programs were on the list, FIRST® was not and therefore many systems were not even aware of the program. To help grow FIRST® in Georgia, mentors from Team 5900 met with leaders in the Georgia Department of Education, State Board of Education, and the Lt. Governor’s office to request FIRST® Robotics be recognized as an official Career Tech Student Organization for the state. Team 5900’s experience and story from the 2016 season was the inspiration that helped inspire the state leaders to action. FIRST® was added as an approved CTSO which also approved FIRST® for extended day pay for teachers who support teams.
Since adding FIRST® as an approved CTSO, Georgia has seen a 10-15% increase in new teams in each of the past two years.
Georgia FIRST® CTSO State Officer – R.J. Walker
FIRST® getting approved on the State of Georgia’s CTSO list resulted in the need to create state-wide officer positions for Georgia FIRST® Robotics. Since Team 5900 was instrumental in getting FIRST® approved as a CTSO, we were asked by Director of Georgia FIRST® to nominate a team member to serve on the initial panel of officers for the state. R.J. Walker was nominated and chosen to serve as one of four state-wide officers for Georgia FIRST®! R.J. and the other FIRST® state officers attended a leadership retreat in Covington, Georgia from June 2-5, 2017. As part of the retreat, the officers completed leadership training and also met with State officials to promote their respective CTSOs. The officers will also develop bylaws and other governing guidelines for use as FIRST® continues to grow as a CTSO in the state.
Expanding FIRST® Robotics in Northwest Georgia
FIRST® Lego League (Middle Schools)
During September 2016, Team 5900 applied for a grant through Billboards for Education to help launch FIRST® Lego Robotics teams at each of the five (5) area middle schools. As part of the competitive grant process, the team made a presentation to a panel to explain their FRC experience and the importance of providing high quality STEM activities for younger children. The team was honored to receive a $15,000 grant!! Team 5900 has worked with Whitfield County Schools to identify the needs for starting these teams, including purchasing Lego kits and laptops for each team. Team 5900 is actively mentoring the teams at each middle school. The middle school teams will compete in FIRST® Lego League during the 2017-2018 season.
Team 5900 will sponsor and host an FLL Regional qualifier for the Northwest Georgia area on December 16, 2017 at the Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy.
FIRST® Robotics Competition Teams (High School)
Team 5900 has helped launch and mentor 2 additional FRC teams in the Northwest Georgia Area:
- 2017 FRC Rookie Team 6712 – Murray County
- 2018 FRC Rookie Team – Dalton High School
FIRST® Lego League, Jr. (Grades K-4)
In 2019, Team 5900 helped secure a $10,000 grant from a local donor to help establish FLL, Jr. teams in both Dalton Public Schools and Whitfield County Schools. Additionally, teams have been started in partnership with the City of Refuge during an after school STEM program. Members of Team 5900 are serving as mentors to the City of Refuge teams.