The LigerBots did STEM outreach on a blazing September Sunday last week at Newtonville Village Day. We had a booth on Walnut St. in the heart of Newtonville, right across from the bandstand, so we got to hear some great music while we talked to our visitors.

At the event, team members talked to community members about FIRST robotics and STEM education, while demonstrating the 2016 competition robot. Everyone from small, laughing kids to adults had the opportunity to drive the robot, catch the ball and create art using our brushbots, and they all had a blast!

The first LigerBots meeting of the year students included engineering challenge games, an opportunity to drive three of the LigerBots robots, and pizza! New students were excited to begin to learn web design and coding, mechanical engineering, and finance. Arushi one of our senior technical members, split rookies into groups and introduced them to the 2012 FIRST Robotics game, “Rebound Rumble”! The rookies brainstormed game strategy and choose mechanisms that they thought would help them win the game.

The LigerBots’ first fall meeting will be on Thursday, September 7, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Newton South wood shop, room 9170. Meeting times in the fall are Thursdays at Newton South from 6:00-9:00 p.m. and Mondays in the Newton North engineering room from 6:00-9:00. New team members in grades 9-12 from the two Newton high schools are invited to any and all meetings. The first meeting will include engineering challenge games and an opportunity to drive three of the LigerBots robots! We are also seeking adult mentors, especially in the fields of web design and coding, mechanical engineering, and finance.

The LigerBots did outreach at the Newtonville Whole Foods last week during a “Giving Grill” fundraiser for Newton Schools Foundation. From 11-2 on a sweltering summer day the LigerBots showed their support for NSF, our parent organization and great ally of the team, and showed our gratitude to Whole Foods, a generous team sponsor. At the event, team members talked to community members about robotics and education, while demonstrating the 2016 competition robot, entertaining all who watched, including a dog! Many people, adults and kids alike, had a blast driving the robot.

The LigerBots sweatshirts are ready! If you ordered one, contact Coach Diane on Slack to arrange for pickup.