Over the summer, and into the beginning of this school year, Team 75 took part in several demonstrations and community outreach events, both locally and out of state.
In Hillsborough in July, the team held a summer enrichment camp at the Middle School. Members of Team 75 taught 5th and 6th graders how to build and program the Lego robots used in the First Lego League program. The students then competed in an exhibition and had a chance to see the RobRaiders’ robot from the past season.
Team 75 participated in both the Rotary Fair and the 4-H Fair, holding interactive presentations. Members explained what went into last year’s robot to visitors young and old.
In mid-July, RoboRaiders demonstrated their robot as part of a NASA exhibit at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum in New York City. Along with local FRC team 1340, it was an opportunity for members to share their passion with visitors from all around the world.
RoboRaiders also demonstrated their robot at local Boys and Girls Clubs. In July, we visited a location in Brooklyn, and in November, a club in the Bronx. Before we showed the kids our robot, we also took smaller groups of girls and introduced them to scientific concepts through fun, interactive activities. These activities have been continuously used as part of our WISE initiative, a program that inspires young girls to explore the traditionally male-dominated fields of science and engineering.
On Sept. 15, the team again demonstrated its robot at the Cozzoli company picnic. The Cozzoli Machine Company has been a significant sponsor in the past two years.
On Nov. 17, Team 75 held its annual BoroBlast event at Hillsborough High School. At this event, First Lego League teams from around the area engaged their Lego robots in friendly competition. Members of the RoboRaiders team coordinated matches as referees, managed the logistics of queueing, and participated as team ambassadors. Others also led a robot demonstration in order to expose the younger members of First Lego League to the inner workings of an First Robotics Team.
Team 75 also invited an FTC team from Ramapo High School to display its robot. FTC, or First Technology Challenge, is a competition similar to that of the First Robotics Competition, but the final robots are typically smaller and not as expensive.
On Nov. 10, RoboRaiders participated in Ramp Riot, an off-season competition. This was one of the first opportunities for our new drive team to control the robot in a competitive environment. The team advanced to the quarterfinals.

