Manufacturer's Tools

CAMPS Supports FIRST Robotics Program

What is FIRST Robotics

The FIRST goal is to inspire students to pursue careers in science and technology. FIRST does this by creating opportunities for students to engage in after school activities that create a very effective mix of technology and sports. They stage team based robotics contests. Students learn to participate in a fun, enriching, and worthwhile experience. No experience is necessary http://firstwa.org

CAMPS supports the efforts and mission of FIRST. This is demonstrated by CAMPS Members as they Commit $20,000 to First Robotics. The members see this as an opportunity to inspire youth to learn about Manufacturing careers for today and tomorrow!

In October during the CAMPS North and CAMPS Kent Round Table breakfast meetings, CAMPS members pledged $20,000 to support the Washington State First Robotics 2012 competition. The pledges ranged from $100 to $2,500. The idea to promote manufacturing careers to high school students originated in early 2011 by the CAMPS CEO Council which resulted in 16 companies pledging $10,000 for CAMPS to be a primary sponsor for the 2011 FIRST competition. This venture resulted in funds to help support the annual competition held at Century Link Field as well as the FIRST Tech Challenge that took place in January 2012. Randy Gardiner, President of Red Dot Corporation, CAMPS Board member and CAMPS CEO Council Chair, presented supporting funds to the Tech Challenge function as well as judged at the local competition.

At the 2011 FIRST Robotics competition CAMPS members committed to mentoring teams and seven individuals volunteered as judges. This year the mentoring is taking place as well as the needed financial support designated to specific teams selected by the CEO Council based on robotic team needs.

CAMPS Presents Checks to Five Local High Schools - See Presentations

The five schools chosen to receive funding were International School Bellevue, Auburn Mountainview High School, Lindbergh High School, Wilson High School and Kentridge High School. In the next few months these teams will put their hard work on display by competing against other robotics teams.

FIRST Tech Challenge - More Photos

FTC is an exciting robotic based program that uses real world technology and programming. Geared towards High School students, it can act as a bridge between the popular FLL and the intense FRC. However students with no previous experience with FIRST or other technology can be successful. Using powerful DC motors and the new Tetrix system created by Pitsco it will allow for a wide range of exciting machines to be built.

A tabletop can become workshop for competitive machines to be built. The robotics kit will bring 11 motors, 9 sensors 3 software programming options as well as metal gears and strong aluminum framing to allow a huge variety of robots to be constructed.

Robots will be designed to compete with an autonomous period as well as an operator controlled time. Maximum sizes for the machines are 18" by 18" by 18". They will compete on a 12 foot by 12 foot field.

The experience of supporting FIRST has opened a lot of eyes. These young people are talented, inspired, and will provide support for the next generation of manufacturing employees as managers, engineers, technicians, and skilled workforce. As an example of youth not aware of manufacturing careers, Randy Gardiner, President and CEO of Red Dot Corporation who heads up the CEO Council and is a CAMPS Board Members, shared his experience of hiring a person who had no idea that manufacturing could offer a rewarding career. His company recently hired a young lady who had pursued a degree in an unrelated field and was not be able to find a job. Red Dot took the chance and offered this person a buyer's position, provided training, and today Red Dot has an excellent employee and buyer. Randy shared that the time has come that companies need to take on a larger role in training, and exposing our youth to manufacturing career pathway opportunities, because currently it is not happening in our schools.

CAMPS members have decided to take a proactive role and decided that no longer can we wait for talented people, we have to assist in educating the current and future workforce about manufacturing. Participating in FIRST does just that. The funds will go to the statewide competition and to individual schools that cannot raise the funds to develop a team. CAMPS CEO Council will decide which schools have the greatest needs. CAMPS members will again participate as judges and are committed to mentoring teams. Two companies, Laser Cutting Northwest (Auburn) and Automated Metal Technologies (Redmond) have volunteered to open their shops on Saturdays during the robot build season in January and February to help the teams cut metal and fabricate parts they need to complete their robots. More members have come forward this year to assist the teams and other companies are considering volunteering as well.

What this all means is the CAMPS members are putting forth "industry driven" cash and efforts to reach their next generation of employees at all levels. If you would like to support the CAMPS FIRST Robotics efforts and missed the Round Tables, you can still participate by contacting CAMPS.

Do you want to volunteer?

FIRST is recruiting for the for Seattle's FIRST Robotics Double Regional competition at CenturyLink, March 22nd, through March 24th 2012. There will be over 100 teams competing this year and FIRST needs about 250 volunteers at the event. The volunteers in the Pacific Northwest really make the Seattle Regionals one of the best FIRST events in the world.

CAMPS hopes that you will offer your support and join FIRST in making the event a success by signing up to volunteer and participate in this year's event.

Visit https://my.usfirst.org/FIRSTPortal/Login/VIMS_Login.aspx to sign up for a FIRST Robotics position.