JOIN US FOR THE 2023-2024 MASSACHUSETTS FTC CENTERSTAGE KICKOFF!

Description: MA FTC Judge Advisor Bob Cullen will offer an overview of the judging sessions and pit interviews and remove some of the mystery behind the judging process. Suitable for both new and experienced teams, this session will cover everything from the basics of the judging sessions to strategies that your team can use to get the most out of your time with the judges.  There will be time for Q and A at the end of the session.  

Joint Zoom Workshop:  This will be a joint Zoom Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites, with Bob Live at the Springfield Western New England University Kickoff.

Event: AirRocket Works / Educational Air Rockets and Launcher Systems
Host: FRC426 / FTC20731 Zombie Apocalypse Counter Task Force Founders, Massachusetts FTC Kickoff Sponsors AirRocket Works,  Sean Violette and Keith Violette
Time: 8:30 – 9:00 / 9:00 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:00 / 10:00 – 10:30
Duration: 30 mins

Description: Sean and Keith Violette will be presenting the AirRocket Works Launcher and Educational System that was featured in MAKE Magazine, utilized by NASA, United Launch Alliance, Museums of Science, and Countless Students and Educators from around the World. This will be a hands-on workshop where participants will cut and build AirRockets out of the Paper Templates and Tape them together readying them for Blast Off. 

Joint Zoom Workshop:  This will be a Joint Zoom Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites with Sean and Keith Violette presenting Live at Weston. 

One participating team will be selected from each Kickoff Site to take home an AirRocket Works Launcher Kit!  

“Lift Off” – Participants at the Weston Kickoff will have the option to launch their creations into the sky following the conclusion of our Kickoff Programming at 1:00 PM.  

We are working with the Satellite Kickoff locations to see if launching at their sites is possible too – stay tuned!

Event: Engineering Notebook and Portfolio
Host: FTC0001,Team Unlimited
Time: 8:30 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:30
Duration: 60 mins

Description: Team Unlimited will be holding a workshop during this year’s Kickoff on the engineering notebook and portfolio! With 20 years of experience and numerous awards for documentation over the years, the team will present helpful information on how to create and improve your documentation for new and veteran teams alike. The presentation will include an overview of how the portfolio and notebook work, changes to the notebook this year, and tips on how to make and succeed with your documentation.

Event: How to think like an Engineer with CAD (OnShape)
Host: Infant Elfrick Gnanasusairaj (Techno Maniacs 16021 Captain)
Time: 10:15 – 11
Duration: 45 minutes

Description: The difference between building good robots consistently and building good robots with luck is planning. The hardware of your robot acts as the foundation for what your robot is able to do. This makes it crucial to pay close attention while building it. CAD allows you to simulate and construct things in a digital landscape, but I’m sure you already knew that. This workshop will serve as a pitch as to why you should use CAD and an explanation as to how you can think like an engineer.

Event: GNCE Engineering and Robotics Lab Tours

Host: FTC18754/FTC22489 GNCE

Time: 8:30 – 9:00 / 9:00 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:00 / 10:00 – 10:30

Duration: 30 min

Meeting Location: Meet in the high school science wing atrium near the GNCE display case at the start of the session. Students will escort the group to the lab.

GNCE’s state-of-the-art Robotics and Engineering Lab gained unanimous approval from the Weston School Board and was constructed during the summer of 2023. Join us for a tour of the 2,000 square foot facility and learn the strategies behind our community engagement and fundraising efforts that made its construction possible. Attendees will receive a copy of GNCE’s instructional “playbook” with tips on how to advocate for similar facilities in their own community.  We will also highlight GNCE’s recommendations on room design and equipment options to support 5 FLL and 4 FTC school teams. This is a realization of the team’s 8th Grade FLL Innovation Project Proposal (of which they could not be prouder) and is an impactful reality that they would like to share and help other teams/schools replicate.

Event: Introduction to goBilda FTC Components / Assemblies – Brainstormers/BTI Recommended goBilda Purchase Items
Host: goBilda and FTC8644 Brainstormers Alumni, Andy Nguyen
Time: 8:30 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:30
Duration: 60 mins

Description: During this workshop teams will get an introduction to the goBilda System and explore why it is utilized and recommended by the nearly all teams. If you are a rookie or younger team this may be invaluable for your team to attend. Additionally, if you have questions about any of the goBilda offerings or general questions about robot design this is your opportunity to ask experts at goBilda directly.  The Kickoff will additionally be discussing the recommended goBilda purchase list for getting a team started developed by past World Championship Finalist, FTC8644 Alumni and Captain, Andy Nguyen as part of his BTI 2022 Summer Internship.

Joint Zoom Workshop: This will be a joint Zoom Session Workshop with the other Kickoff sites and goBilda presenting from Kansas. 

Event: Judging / Sponsorship
Host: FTC12589 Pioneer Robotics
Time: 8:30 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:30
Duration: 60 mins

Description: Pioneer Robotics will be holding a workshop on best practices and lessons learned in judging and sponsorship that has made them a sustainable program, regular top contender for judged awards, and to get the resources necessary to achieve the team’s goals. The workshop will include a demo and mock presentations with attendees. Pioneer Robotics was recognized for their efforts with a Qualifier Inspire Award last season. 

Event: Mentor Town Hall Meeting
Host:  FTC18754/FTC22489 GNCE Mentor 2023 Compass Award Winner Cary Gumbert, BTI Deb Rose, BTI Wayne Penn
Time: 9:00 – 10:00
Duration: 60 mins

Description: This town hall meeting is intended to connect fellow coaches and allow them to have open discussions about concerns, needs, and share positive solutions etc.  We will also be discussing seasons specific questions, as well as strategic and targeted growth plans with special emphasis on bringing graduating FIRST Lego League Teams to FIRST Tech Challenge, University and Vocational Technology School Partnerships, as well as our efforts to increase FTC Challenge in rural, and/or underserved and underrepresented communities.

Joint Zoom Workshop: This will be a joint Zoom Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites with the hosts presenting live from Weston

Event: Sensor Fusion, Safeguards, and Lessons Learned in Autonomous
Host: Kaden Cassidy FTC14039 IrRaTiONAL and FTC18438 Wolfpack Machina Alumni
Time: 8:30 – 9:00 / 9:00 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:00 / 10:00 – 10:30
Duration: 30 mins

Description: Kaden has graciously offered to share his knowledge and expertise on Sensor Fusion, Safeguard Integration, and Lessons Learned in Autonomous acquired and developed during his FTC Career. Amongst his recent accomplishments, it helped propel his former team to either the eliminations or a Championship at every event they competed in, #1 Seed in the Ochoa Division at World Championship, #1 Offensive Power Rankings (OPR) at the World Championship, Ochoa Division Championship, and Technical Contributions that helped to earn them the World Inspire Award.  

Joint Zoom Workshop: This will be a joint Zoom Session Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites with Kaden presenting bright and early from California where he attends college!

Event: Code Compartmentalization
Host: Wolfpack Machina and Lupine Robotics, teams 18438 and 18224
Time: 8:30-9:15, and 9:30-10:15
Duration: 45 minutes

Description: In this workshop we will explain Code Compartmentalization in Object Oriented Programming. Compartmentalization is the process of organizing code into levels and sublevels so that it is not only easier to read and understand but also easier to write. This could range anywhere from making each motor from the same template to dozens of different interfaces, wrappers and subclasses that make recoding the whole robot simpler. Compartmentalization is especially helpful when you have a team of programmers and need to communicate easily among them. Having easy, readable code is the key to a good robot and this workshop can tell you all about how to do that.

Joint Zoom Workshop: This will be a Joint Zoom Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites with Wolfpack Machina and Lupine presenting Live at Weston.

Event: A Peak Behind the Judging Room Door
Host: Massachusetts FTC Judge Advisor Bob Cullen
Time: 8:30 – 9:00 / 9:00 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:00 / 10:00 – 10:30
Duration: 30 mins

Description: MA FTC Judge Advisor Bob Cullen will offer an overview of the judging sessions and pit interviews and remove some of the mystery behind the judging process. Suitable for both new and experienced teams, this session will cover everything from the basics of the judging sessions to strategies that your team can use to get the most out of your time with the judges.  There will be time for Q and A at the end of the session.  

Join Zoom Workshop: This will be a joint Zoom Session Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites featuring “Bob Live” at the Springfield Western New England University Kickoff.

Event: AirRocket Works / Educational Air Rockets and Launcher Systems
Host: FRC426 / FTC20731 Zombie Apocalypse Counter Task Force Founders, Massachusetts FTC Kickoff Sponsors AirRocket Works,  Sean Violette and Keith Violette
Time: 8:30 – 9:00 / 9:00 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:00 / 10:00 – 10:30
Duration: 30 mins

Description: Sean and Keith Violette will be presenting the AirRocket Works Launcher and Educational System that was featured in MAKE Magazine, utilized by NASA, United Launch Alliance, Museums of Science, and Countless Students and Educators from around the World. This will be a hands-on workshop where participants will cut and build AirRockets out of the Paper Templates and Tape them together readying them for Blast Off. 

Joint Zoom Workshop: This will be a joint Zoom session with the other Kickoff Sites featuring Sean and Keith Violette presenting Live at Weston. 

One participating team will be selected from each Kickoff Site to take home an AirRocket Works Launcher Kit!  

Event: Introduction to goBilda FTC Components / Assemblies – Brainstormers/BTI Recommended goBilda Purchase Items
Host: goBilda and FTC8644 Brainstormers Alumni, Andy Nguyen
Time: 8:30 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:30
Duration: 60 mins

Description: During this workshop teams will get an introduction to the goBilda System and explore why it is utilized and recommended by nearly all of the teams. If you are a rookie or younger team this may be invaluable for your team to attend. Additionally, if you have questions about any of the goBilda offerings or general questions about robot design this is your opportunity to ask experts at goBilda directly.  The Kickoff will additionally be discussing the recommended goBilda purchase list for getting a team started developed by past World Championship Finalist, FTC8644 Alumni and Captain, Andy Nguyen as part of his 2022 BTI Summer Internship.

Join Zoom Workshop: This will be a joint Zoom Session Workshop with the other Kickoff sites and goBilda presenting from Kansas. 

Event: Mentor Town Hall Meeting
Host:  FTC18754/FTC22489 GNCE Mentor 2023 Compass Award Winner Cary Gumbert, BTI Deb Rose, BTI Wayne Penn
Time: 9:00 – 10:00
Duration: 60 mins

Description: This town hall meeting is intended to connect fellow coaches and allow them to have open discussions about concerns, needs, and share positive solutions etc.  We will also be discussing seasons specific questions, as well as strategic and targeted growth plans with special emphasis on bringing graduating FIRST Lego League Teams to FIRST Tech Challenge, University and Vocational Technology School Partnerships, as well as our efforts to increase FTC Challenge in rural, and/or underserved and underrepresented communities.

Joint Zoom Workshop:  This will be a joint Zoom Session Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites with the hosts presenting live from Weston.

Event: Rookie Workshop
Host: FTC6040 Canton Robodogs, FTC11723 Canton GearHounds Mentor Katie Healy
Time: 8:30 – 9:30
Duration: 60 mins

Description: Katie Healy will be sharing her 10+ years of experience mentoring in FTC. This workshop is for new teams. From membership drives and registration to designing/building, engineering notebooks/portfolio, and competition preparedness/awards, we’ll give you an overview and help get you on your way! 

Event: Sensor Fusion, Safeguards, and Lessons Learned in Autonomous
Host: Kaden Cassidy FTC14039 IrRaTiONAL and FTC18438 Wolfpack Machina Alumni
Time: 8:30 – 9:00 / 9:00 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:00 / 10:00 – 10:30
Duration: 30 mins

Description: Kaden has graciously offered to share his knowledge and expertise on Sensor Fusion, Safeguard Integration, and Lessons Learned in Autonomous acquired and developed during his FTC Career. Amongst his recent accomplishments, it helped propel his former team to either the eliminations or a Championship at every event they competed in, #1 Seed in the Ochoa Division at World Championship, #1 Offensive Power Rankings (OPR) at the World Championship, Ochoa Division Championship, and Technical Contributions that helped to earn them the World Inspire Award.  

Joint Zoom Workshop: This is a Joint Zoom Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites with Kaden presenting bright and early from California where he attends college!

Event: Code Compartmentalization
Host: Wolfpack Machina and Lupine Robotics, teams 18438 and 18224
Time: 8:30-9:15, and 9:30-10:15
Duration: 45 minutes

Description: In this workshop we will explain Code Compartmentalization in Object Oriented Programming. Compartmentalization is the process of organizing code into levels and sublevels so that it is not only easier to read and understand but also easier to write. This could range anywhere from making each motor from the same template to dozens of different interfaces, wrappers and subclasses that make recoding the whole robot simpler. Compartmentalization is especially helpful when you have a team of programmers and need to communicate easily among them. Having easy, readable code is the key to a good robot and this workshop can tell you all about how to do that.

Joint Zoom Workshop: This will be a Joint Zoom Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites with Wolfpack Machina and Lupine presenting Live at Weston.

Event: A Peak Behind the Judging Room Door
Host: Massachusetts FTC Judge Advisor Bob Cullen
Time: 8:30 – 9:00 / 9:00 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:00 / 10:00 – 10:30
Duration: 30 mins

Description: MA FTC Judge Advisor Bob Cullen will offer an overview of the judging sessions and pit interviews and remove some of the mystery behind the judging process. Suitable for both new and experienced teams, this session will cover everything from the basics of the judging sessions to strategies that your team can use to get the most out of your time with the judges.  There will be time for Q and A at the end of the session.  

Joint Zoom Workshop: This is a Joint Zoom Workshop Zoom with the other Kickoff Sites with Bob Live at the Springfield Western New England University Kickoff.

Event: AirRocket Works / Educational Air Rockets and Launcher Systems
Host: FRC426 / FTC20731 Zombie Apocalypse Counter Task Force Founders, Massachusetts FTC Kickoff Sponsors AirRocket Works,  Sean Violette and Keith Violette
Time: 8:30 – 9:00 / 9:00 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:00 / 10:00 – 10:30
Duration: 30 mins

Description: Sean and Keith Violette will be presenting the AirRocket Works Launcher and Educational System that was featured in MAKE Magazine, utilized by NASA, United Launch Alliance, Museums of Science, and Countless Students and Educators from around the World. This will be a hands-on workshop where participants will cut and build AirRockets out of the Paper Templates and Tape them together readying them for Blast Off. 

Joint Zoom Workshop: This is a Joint Zoom Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites with Sean and Keith Violette presenting Live at Weston. One participating team will be selected from each Kickoff Site to take home an AirRocket Works Launcher Kit!  

Event: How to Create an Engineering Portfolio
Host: FTC21332 Cardinal Coders, Eli Hanechak
Time: 8:30 – 9:30
Duration: 60 mins

Description: Last year’s Rookie Rising All-Star from Springfield, MA will be sharing How to Create an Engineering Portfolio which is an integral part of the Design Process, FTC Competition Experience, and integral part of Judging.   

Event: Introduction to goBilda FTC Components / Assemblies – Brainstormers/BTI Recommended goBilda Purchase Items
Host: goBilda and FTC8644 Brainstormers Alumni, Andy Nguyen
Time: 8:30 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:30
Duration: 60 mins

Description: During this workshop teams will get an introduction to the goBilda System and explore why it is utilized and recommended by nearly all of the teams. If you are a rookie or younger team this may be invaluable for your team to attend. Additionally, if you have questions about any of the goBilda offerings or general questions about robot design this is your opportunity to ask experts at goBilda directly.  The Kickoff will additionally be discussing the recommended goBilda purchase list for getting a team started developed by past World Championship Finalist, FTC8644 Alumni and Captain, Andy Nguyen as part of his 2022 BTI Summer Internship. 

Joint Zoom Workshop: This is a Joint Zoom Workshop with the other Kickoff sites and goBilda presenting from Kansas. 

Event: Mentor Town Hall Meeting
Host:  FTC18754/FTC22489 GNCE Mentor 2023 Compass Award Winner Cary Gumbert, BTI Deb Rose, BTI Wayne Penn
Time: 9:00 – 10:00
Duration: 60 mins

Description: This town hall meeting is intended to connect fellow coaches and allow them to have open discussions about concerns, needs, and share positive solutions etc.  We will also be discussing seasons specific questions, as well as strategic and targeted growth plans with special emphasis on bringing graduating FIRST Lego League Teams to FIRST Tech Challenge, University and Vocational Technology School Partnerships, as well as our efforts to increase FTC Challenge in rural, and/or underserved and underrepresented communities.

Joint Zoom Workshop: This is a Joint Zoom with the other Kickoff Sites with the hosts presenting live from Weston

Event: Lessons Learned from a Rookie Team
Host: FTC21332 Cardinal Coders, Marco Vital
Time: 8:30 – 9:30
Duration: 60 mins

Description: Last year’s Rookie Rising All-Star from Springfield, MA will be sharing lessons learned and best practices with other Rookie and Young Teams.  If you are a rookie or young team attending the WNE Springfield Kickoff this workshop is for you!

Event: Sensor Fusion, Safeguards, and Lessons Learned in Autonomous
Host: Kaden Cassidy FTC14039 IrRaTiONAL and FTC18438 Wolfpack Machina Alumni
Time: 8:30 – 9:00 / 9:00 – 9:30 / 9:30 – 10:00 / 10:00 – 10:30
Duration: 30 mins

Description: Kaden has graciously offered to share his knowledge and expertise on Sensor Fusion, Safeguard Integration, and Lessons Learned in Autonomous acquired and developed during his FTC Career. Amongst his recent accomplishments, it helped propel his former team to either the eliminations or a Championship at every event they competed in, #1 Seed in the Ochoa Division at World Championship, #1 Offensive Power Rankings (OPR) at the World Championship, Ochoa Division Championship, and Technical Contributions that helped to earn them the World Inspire Award.  

Joint Zoom Workshop: This is a Joint Zoom Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites with Kaden presenting bright and early from California where he attends college!

Event: Code Compartmentalization
Host: Wolfpack Machina and Lupine Robotics, teams 18438 and 18224
Time: 8:30-9:15, and 9:30-10:15
Duration: 45 minutes

Description: In this workshop we will explain Code Compartmentalization in Object Oriented Programming. Compartmentalization is the process of organizing code into levels and sublevels so that it is not only easier to read and understand but also easier to write. This could range anywhere from making each motor from the same template to dozens of different interfaces, wrappers and subclasses that make recoding the whole robot simpler. Compartmentalization is especially helpful when you have a team of programmers and need to communicate easily among them. Having easy, readable code is the key to a good robot and this workshop can tell you all about how to do that.

Joint Zoom Workshop: This will be a Joint Zoom Workshop with the other Kickoff Sites with Wolfpack Machina and Lupine presenting Live at Weston.