2010 Outreach

This page documents some of the BCR outreach activities in 2010. Outreach activities are how we spread the word about FIRST values, recruit new students and mentors, and get community support for our program.

Team members working on a Chairman's Award application in the future may find this page useful for their documentation efforts.

Visit by Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki

Japanese Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki visited our Robotics Laboratory on Sunday, July 25th. We had a good turn out and everyone was thrilled to meet Naoko. Students gave her a tour of the lab and showed her their robots. Then she talked about her flight in April on Discovery and her 16 days at the ISS. She answered questions and autographed photos for the team. She spent about 45 minutes in the lab with her husband Taichi and her seven year old daughter. Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki embodies gracious professionalism and it was great for the students to be able to meet her.

Earlier Sunday, Andrea and I saw her 10:00 AM presentation in Laguna Woods. The theatre seated about 1,000 and it was filled. She showed video of her stay at the ISS and described the mission and life in space. The theme was “Fly to the Future.”

Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki at her Fly to the Future lecture in Laguna Woods.
Photo by Andrea Wagner

Naoko is joined on stage by her seven year old daughter and husband Taichi.
Photo by Andrea Wagner

Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki (center, in blue jumpsuit) meets the Lego League team.
Photo by Cindy Malouin

Lead Mentor Andrew Keisic and Rick Wagner greet Naoko Yamazaki.
Photo by Andrea Wagner

Lego League students show Naoko one of their Lego robots.
Photo by Andrea Wagner

High school student Alex gives a tour of the Robotics Laboratory and explains our summer robotic challenge.
Photo by Andrea Wagner

The Astronaut poses for pictures with the team.
Photo by Andrea Wagner

Naoko very graciously autographed photos for the team.
Photo by Andrea Wagner

Naoko-san prepares to depart with her seven year old daughter and husband. Andrew Keisic presented
them with team shirts.
Photo by Cindy Malouin

Robotics Laboratory Open House, June 13

The Open House was held from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Robotics Laboratory at 620 Diamond Street. It was very well attended and generated a lot of interest in the team and the summer workshops coming up.

Steve Napolatano awarded certificates from Don Knabe, LA County Supervisor, Fourth District.

We had a lot of visitors. Here, Sebastian describes our robots to guests.

Lego League activities were in full swing too.

Cindy Malouin greets guests as they come in.

Lego League action continues.

Cindy Malouin continues greeting guests.

Lego League action continues.

A walking Lego robot.

The team poses with McTwist.

Let's eat! There was lots of pot luck to share.

Rick Wagner awards certificates of recognition to the FLL students.

Rick Wagner presents a pen to Matt Steiger, student captain of the FRC scouting team.

The graduating seniors speak.

Students pass out GM backpacks, gifts from HOT, team 67, our Chamnpionship alliance partner.

Hermosa Beach City Council Meeting, June 18

The team was invited to demonstrate the Championship robot at the Hermosa Beach City Council meeting. Team 330, the BeachBots, 2010 LA Regional FRC winners, were also invited.

Alex explains FIRST and team 294 to the souncilmembers.

Wiley, representing Beach Cities Robotics, and the BeachBots representative, speak to the council.

The robot demonstration was a big hit.

The mayor presented certificates of recognition to the two teams.

It was a great experience for the students to be recognized by the Hermosa Beach City Council.

Manhattan Beach City Council Meeting, June 1

The team was invited to the Manhattan Beach City Council meeting where we demonstrated the robot and were presented with a Mayor's commendation.

Mayor Mitch Ward asked the team to assemble in the Council Chambers.

The Mayor reads his proclamation.

We are all listening to the Mayor.

Alex talks about the team and FIRST principles while Mayor Mitch Ward looks on.

Fintan speaks.

It's fun to address the public.

Andrea passes the microphone to Nighelles.

Wiley speaks.

Chris is next.

Abby gets a turn.

Rick passes the microphone back to the Mayor.

Group photo with the Mayor's commendation.

Redondo High and NGAS, May 26

On Wednesday, May 26, 2010, BCR Team Coordinator Andrea Wagner took the robot to Redondo High School so that team member Sebastian could use it to recruit students for the summer workshops and fall semester. Later, she and parent mentor Cindy Sharp took the robot to Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGAS) for the Engineering, Technology, and Careers (ETC) demonstration.

Sebastian took the robot for a demonstration at Redondo High School during the lunch break.

The team demonstrated the robot at NGAS's Engineering, Technology, and Careers (ETC) course.

Chris, Wiley, Ryan, and Daniel get the robot ready for the demonstration on the stage.

The robot looks good as the students for the ETC course come in.

The drive team watches the introductory speaker (Gary Segal, ETC organizer, not shown).

The drive team at the controls.

Team members and parents stayed for the space robotics lecture.

Now in its sixth year, ETC is 19 weekly sessions in the winter and spring every year.

With about 30 students from South Bay high schools attending, Rick Wagner taught the Space Robotics session.

The Comic Bug, May 19

A team student went to The Comic Bug in Manhattan Beach and asked for a donation. The proprietor wanted to see the robot, so the team got the robot and brought it to The Comic Bug.

As shown in the photographs below, the store seemed very busy on that Thursday afternoon. Proprietor Jun Goeku made a donation to the team of $500.

Students set up the control board on the counter in The Comic Bug. The Championship Trophy is also displayed.

Ball handling and kicking is demonstrated.

Customers in the store seem to get a "kick" out of seing the robot.

The store seems well stocked and busy. The robot adds a lot of excitememt!

Captain America gets into the act.

Wiley and Alex are driving.

A great demonstration.

Students did a great job with outreach and fundraising that day.

Redondo Beach City Council Meeting, May 18

The Redondo Beach City Council invited the team to their meeting to receive a plaque and certificates of commendation for all the team members.

The team demonstrated the robot outside the entrance to the Council Chambers, generating a lot of interest. The team then brought the robot inside the Council Chambers to receive the Mayor's and Council's commendation.

Council members mingle with team parents and students before the meeting.

The robot (offscreen to the right) is driven by Alex Davis and Wiley Davis (not related).

We demonstrate the robots agility and kicking ability.

Abby Kim passes out fundraising fliers to the Council members.

Robbie Gleichman assists in catching balls and feeding the robot.

The robot's bumpers had been removed to get it through the single door into the Council Chambers.

Robinson Elementary School Scientist Day, May 14

Robinson Elementary School has an annual Scientist Day of which we have been a part for several years.

Wiley Davis, his Mom (Alice Davis), Andrea Wagner, and Rick Wagner attended Scientist Day (Friday, May 14), bringing along some display boards, several VEX and FTC robots, and robot controllers for demonstrations. Wiley did a great job representing the team and telling the kids about Beach Cities Robotics, our values, and our competitions.

Rick introduces Wiley to the second class of the day. Wiley has proven himself to be an excellent
team spokesman, having given a radio interview with CNN at the Championship event in Atlanta.

The students are fascinated by the robots.

index.html, this hand crafted HTML file was created May 17, 2010.
Last updated July 27, 2010 by Rick Wagner.