This year the FIRST world championship events are split between two locations–Houston and Detroit.  We didn’t make it this year (there is always next season), but we are looking into a trip to the event so we can attend some of the many conference sessions that are a part of Worlds (and catch a few matches).  We’ll also toss in a college visit or two if we can.

Here is a link to FIM’s information about the Detroit World event: http://www.firstinmichigan.org/events/eventInfo.php?id=126&program=frc.  The conference schedule is here: https://www.firstchampionship.org/full-schedule?field_program_tid%5B%5D=66&field_event_location_schedule_tid=32&field_time3_value%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=&field_time3_value2%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=&items_per_page=25

We invite you to attend the 2nd Annual bIrobot Movie Festival where we feature films that feature robots.  Before the films, the bIrobot Team will take to the stage to explain what FIRST is all about, demonstrate their robots and answer questions.  This year we will also display our award winning pit facade and other materials that we used to promote Beaver Island at our events this season.

Our feature films this year are Wall-e (featuring the robot Wall-e and his pals) at 3:00 p.m. and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (featuring Marvin the Paranoid Android) at 7:00.  If you are only interested in the team presentation, please come for that and feel free to leave before the movie starts.  The presentations will happen ahead of each of the films and will last about 20 minutes.

Interested in robots? Programming? Come to the bIrobot Summer Robotics Camp at Beaver Island Community School August 6th through the 10th from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day with a final competition time on the 10th at 1:30 p.m.. Design and build a robot to meet challenges in a game revealed at the start of camp. Team up with others and compete as an alliance against other teams to see who can score the most points. You’ll build and program a robot the first day of camp and then build on those skills to complete a week-long version of a FIRST FRC season. The grand finale will be a competition among the teams, to find the best robot. But everyone will win with a great experience. Your mentors will be the bIrobot FIRST FRC team, veterans of three FRC seasons, along with their coach, who teaches programming and robotics at BICS. No prior programming or robotics experience is required, but those with experience will still find plenty to challenge them. Course fee of $25 for materials. Sign up early as there are only a limited number of places.

To signup, go to birobot.org/camp2018 or stop in to BICS and go to the front desk in the school office.

Again this year the FIRST world championship events are split between two locations–Houston and Detroit.  We qualified for the world championships in St. Louis in 2016 (when they were still a single event).  We worked hard to make it back to Worlds this year, but we did not make it. But, with the event nearby in Detroit you still might want to attend to see the competition as well as to attend some of the many conference sessions and to visit the exhibits.

Here is a link to information about the Detroit World event: https://www.firstchampionship.org/detroit-home.  We attended the event last year because there are many useful conference sessions at Worlds.  (We snuck into watch a few matches, too.)  The FIRST world event is more exciting than any other high school competitive event we know about.  If you can make it there even for a day, we encourage you to go.  It’s all free for general attendance at the matches and for all conference events.

Interested in robots? Programming? Sign up for the bIrobot Summer Robtics Camp. Design and build a robot to meet challenges in a game revealed at the start of camp. Team up with others and compete as an alliance against other teams to see who can score the most points. You’ll build and program a robot the first day of camp and then build on those skills to complete a week-long version of a FIRST FRC season. The grand finale will be a competition among the teams, to find the best robot. But everyone will win with a great experience. Your mentors will be the bIrobot FIRST FRC team, veterans of three FRC seasons, along with their coach, who teaches programming and robotics at BICS. No prior programming or robotics experience is required, but those with experience will still find plenty to challenge them.

Class meets from 8:30 to 12:30 Monday through Thursday and 8:30 to 3:00 on Friday.  Our competition will begin at 2:00 on Friday after a traditional bIrobot Pizza Party for campers (so pack a lunch Friday if you don’t like pizza).  Summer residents and vacation visitors are welcome.  You need not be a student at BICS to attend. There is a $35 activity fee.

FIRST HAS CANCELLED THIS YEAR’S CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT IN DETROIT.

Again this year the FIRST world championship events are split between two locations–Houston and Detroit.  We qualified for the world championships in St. Louis in 2016 (when they were still a single event) and have attended the Detroit Championships as a guest of Consumers Energy after winning a state-wide Pit Display comeptition.  We will work hard this year to return as a competitor in the event.

Here is a link to information about the Detroit World event: https://www.firstchampionship.org/detroit-home.   The FIRST world event is more exciting than any other high school competitive event we know about.  In addition to competition events for all four FIRST Leagues (FLL Jr., FLL, FTC and FRC), you can visit the teams in their pits and attend a full schedule of conference sessions that cover a broad range of topics of interest to students, parents and mentors that cover a variety of robotics and other topics. If you can make it there even for a day, we encourage you to go.  It’s all free for general attendance at the matches and for all conference events.