This summer is when our season actually starts. The first League Meet is in November, but the work that wins League Tournaments and earns Rookie All-Star nominations doesn’t happen between September and November — it happens between June and September. Here’s the plan.
Robotics Camp at Tally Robotics, Tallahassee
The biggest in-person training opportunity in our region this summer is the Tally Robotics summer camp in Tallahassee. There is still time to register your kids. If you have a student who is going to be on our team — or even thinking about it — get them signed up. A week of immersive robotics instruction in June is worth months of slow self-paced learning afterward. Our kids are signed up for two weeks this July.
All technical learning paths — completed this summer
Every full team member needs to finish the technical learning paths before September. The list:
- Java programming — the Coach Pratt video tutorials paired with the Learn Java Programming with FTC book.
- CAD — Onshape; building toward parts and full assemblies that will run on the robot.
- 3D printing — design, slicing, real prints, post-processing.
- Lead screws — design, sizing, mounting, application.
- Mecanum wheels — geometry, drive math, programming a Mecanum drivetrain.
- Mechanical and electrical construction — safe assembly, wiring, configuration.
- AI / Machine Learning fundamentals — every active member becomes an AI expert this summer.
Right-brain goals — also start now
The non-technical work doesn’t wait until September either. Targets for this summer:
- Draft a Plan to Win document — the strategic blueprint judges read at every tournament.
- Map out the specific Top Judges Awards we’re targeting (Inspire, Connect, Rookie All-Star, Innovate) and what each one requires.
- Build the team brand assets and the engineering portfolio template.
- Set up the sponsor outreach pipeline and send the first wave of letters.
- Plan the team’s first community engagement event — ideally in August.
FIRST’s two summer learning resources
FIRST has dropped two enormous gifts in our laps. We will use both. We’ve already covered each in detail on the blog:
- BIOBUZZ Skill Builders — driving practice, intake design, and autonomous challenges, all directly tied to the new game.
- The FTC Crossroads Curriculum — 90 hours of engineering class, free — a full two-semester engineering course we’ll cherry-pick the highest-priority units from.
Our commitment: do as much of these two programs as humanly possible this summer. Cherry-picked, sequenced, and tied to specific team goals.
Cover key portions of the 90-hour engineering course
From the Crossroads Curriculum specifically, the units we’re committing to cover this summer:
- Why FIRST + FTC Robots + Decompose a Robot (orientation for new members)
- Project Management + Engineering Design Process
- Robot Systems — chassis, electrical, manipulators
- Computational Thinking + Autonomous
- Community Impact Plan
- Career Discovery and Goal Setting (engineering portfolio)
Operational goals
The boring foundational stuff that has to be done now:
- Lock in our meeting location — somewhere in Apalachicola, Eastpoint, or on St. George Island — and set the weekly meeting time.
- Complete multiple 40-hour work weeks of focused build and learning time as a team. It is good for kids to learn what a 40 hour work week is actually like. That way they can better appreciate how good they have it now. 🙂 Think of it as a robotics boot camp but FREE!
- Enable team leads to teach — once a lead has mastered a topic, they own teaching it to everyone else. Mentors back them up; students drive the instruction.
The bottom line
The phrase we’ll keep repeating all summer: do as much as is humanly possible. Most rookie teams arrive at September Kickoff already behind. We don’t intend to be one of them.