January 6, 2018 Kickoff at St.Martins Univ in Lacey

Watch the 2018 Game Animation on YouTube
If you miss the live broadcast, do a YouTube search for "2018 FRC Game Animation".
Watch the Live Kickoff Broadcast 7:30AM in your bunny slippers
You can stream the Kickoff Broadcast through Twitch. Please visit the Kickoff Broadcast page before 7AM Saturday to make sure that you will be able to access the live stream and troubleshoot any issues ahead of time.
Download encrypted game manual. It is posted on the Game and Season page. The Encryption code will be available on Saturday, January 6 at the end of the Kickoff broadcast. You may want to download those documents now so you will be ready when the time comes!
Team Watches Event Live at St.Martins University
Team 5295 will discover the game objectives of the 2018 game PowerUp on Saturday 1-6-2018 at the Norman Worthington Conference Center (NWCC), Building 9.  Address: St Martins University Campus, 5300 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey WA 98503 map    Use N O P Q parking lots 
SMU FRC 2018 Kickoff all info on 1 page

5:15AM Meet at Shelton High near Student Union Building (S.U.B.).
Transport, Sign-Up & Agenda
5:30AM Depart in a district bus (thanks Coach Clarey!).
6:15AM Arrive St.Martin's University.
6:30AM Doors open. Norman Worthington Conference Center (NWCC), Building 9 Campus Map
7:00AM Official Start: warm-up videos and talks.
7:30AM PowerUp game animation reveal from New Hampshire.
For complete schedule see Transport, Sign-Up & Agenda
12 NOON Bus departs for Shelton High School.
Afternoon at robot shop: lunch, read rules, walk-thru & brainstorm.
7:00PM  Kickoff complete.  

Apple Engineering Technology Camp July 9-August 3, 2018

FIRST is happy to announce that, through our partnership with Apple, we have been asked to nominate FIRST Participants for the 2018 Apple Engineering Technology Camp.

This is a one month, all expenses (including travel) camp held at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California. FIRST, along with other nonprofit partners, can nominate students with an exceptional interest in technology and software or hardware engineering to attend the camp.

To apply for a nomination:

• Students must complete an application by January 5, 2018.
• Selected students from this pool will then be invited to apply directly with Apple in mid-January.

If you need help with the application, contact FirstRoboticsCompetition@FIRSTinspires.org or phone 1-800-871-8326.

FRC Workshop Training Posted; Add Your Notes

Notes from recent FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Workshops have been posted to our [09 Training + FRC Workshops] folder.  Topics include: Setting Team Goals; Intakes, Arms, Lifts & Launchers; Engineering Design Process; and Design & Competition Strategy. This information comes from the Tacoma November 18th workshops sponsored by Team 2557 SOTAbots and the Everett November 11th workshops sponsored by Team 4512 BEARbots.   Feel free to add your notes to this folder.

Grants Pay $10,866 Pacific Northwest Entry Fee

$3,866 OSPI: Thank You P.Cusack;
$3,000 Boeing: Thank You A.Walker;
$2,000 F5 Networks: Thank You E.McCallum;
$1,000 FIRST Washington: Thank You E.McCallum;
$1,000 Integral Fellow Award Grant: Thank You K.Ross and Microsoft.

Our Pacific Northwest (PNW) District 2018 entry fee pays for our Kit of Parts, two district competitions, the PNW District Championship & staff.

Give Local ends on Wednesday, December 13 at 11:59pm

Wednesday is Giving Bonus Wednesday.  Five donors who donate $25 or more on Wednesday will randomly be drawn and another $100 each will be given to their recipient.  Team 5295 in Shelton received $5585 from 8 donors!  As of Dec.12, Give Local has received 614 donations totaling $96,711. That does not include the $40,000 match from the Dawkins Charitable Trust.   

Booster Club Meets Thursday Dec.14 5-6PM

Goal: support our youth's hands-on apprenticeship of marketing and robotics. We meet again in room 808.  Press the red text to follow the link & see content.
12/14 Agenda   11/30 Minutes

$50 Million in FIRST Scholarships for Juniors & Seniors

$50 Million FIRST Scholarships
 

Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (1:13) YOUTUBE video
This one has a minimum payout of $22,500.  In past years, not all the grant funds were distributed.  The application window is January 2 to February 28, 2018.  Yikes!  Kickoff is January 6th.  http://waopportunityscholarship.org/ 

Give Local Raises $5585 of $7000 Goal; 5 Days Remain

December 8, 2017---Shelton, Washington---Give Local South Puget Sound so far has raised $5585 of our $7000 goal.  One hundred percent of your gift supports Team 5295 "Aldernating Current" and helps qualify us for a match of up to $5,000 from the Dawkins Charitable Trust. 

You can Give Local until Wednesday, December 13th, the last day of the campaign.  On that day, the Community Foundation will draw 5 names from all online donations of $25 or more made on that day through the Give Local online giving platform. The winners will receive $100 to spend on the Give Local nonprofit of their choice!

From November 21 through December 13 Team 5295 "Aldernating Current" is joining more than 40 nonprofits in raising money to help make the South Puget Sound a stronger, more vibrant community for all.

Volunteer at Local FTC or FLL Competitions

Sign-up to volunteer here    Here is where local teams will compete.

Saturday Dec.16  FIRST Technical Challenge  7AM-6:30PM  Schedule
Amazon Doppler Bldg., 2021 7th Ave (Westlake Ave), Seattle, WA 98121
Shelton's Oakland Bay Jr High Team 7999 "T-Wolves" compete.

Saturday Dec.16  FIRST Technical Challenge  7AM-6:30PM  Schedule
Baker Middle School, 8320 South I Street, Tacoma WA 98405
Our sister Westport 4-H Team 11121 "Fishy Business Inc." competes.

Shelton High will not transport volunteers to Dec9-10 competitions.

Sunday Dec.10 FIRST Lego League  7AM-5PM  Schedule
Washington Middle School, 3100 Cain Road SE, Olympia WA 98501
Shelton's Olympic Middle School Team 3238 "Cyber Doughnuts" compete.

Saturday  Dec.9   FIRST Lego League  7AM-5PM  Schedule
Washington Middle School, 3100 Cain Road SE, Olympia WA 98501
Shelton's Olympic Middle School Team 36147 "Robotic Eagles" compete.

For Volunteer Opportunities, go to www.firstinspires.org. Create an account.  There are buttons to volunteer for an event and filters to select programs, locations, and a date range.