Add your idea »

Maine Robotics... how to scale up


Question:

How could Maine Robotics scale their endeavors to become as readily accessible to middle and high school students as sports and music?

MISSION:

To promote growth and interest in the sciences of engineering and computers to students across Maine; to provide opportunities for youth to engage in and learn about these fields; to provide opportunities to instruct teachers, coaches, and mentors in the skills necessary to in turn mentor and teach the youth of Maine. Maine Robotics seeks to provide a supportive, mentoring atmosphere for both youth and teachers wishing to pursue advancement in the sometimes daunting world of engineering and computer science.

MAINE ROBOTICS FOCUS

  • FIRST LEGO League, ages 9-14, currently enrolled by 40 teams and 300+ students
  • Spring Robot Track Meets, ages 9-14, currently enrolled by 30 teams and 250+ students
  • FIRST VEX/Tech Challenge, High School, currently enrolled by 5 teams and 50+ students
  • Washington County Robot EXPO, Elementary to High School, currently enrolled by 8 schools/teams
  • Teacher and School Workshops, held 11 teacher workshops in 2007
  • Summer Camp Programs, held 11 weeks of camp in 5 different communities, enrolled 177 campers

HISTORY:

Fall 2004: Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Maine Robotics took over the operation of the FIRST LEGO League, teacher workshops, and the summer camp program from the Agent Institute at the University of Maine when that department closed.

Spring 2005: Developed relationships with the Maine Maritime Academy and the University of Southern Maine and ran the first Robot Track Meets at these locations. Have continued working with both campuses.

Spring 2007: Ran the first Washington County Robot EXPO, ran the first FIRST VEX Challenge in Maine

Summer 2007: Formed an advisory council with 5 members from around the state. Added camps to the Portland area, housed on the USM campuses in Portland and Gorham.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:

Maine Robotics is run by a three-member board of directors. Tom Bickford is the president and executive director. Mr. Bickford oversees all aspects of the organization. During the year the number of employees working for Maine Robotics fluctuates from 1 to 10, depending on the activities. Maine Robotics works with a Licensed Fundraiser in developing and implementing an annual campaign and a grant solicitation program.

FINANCIAL:

The 2007 Maine Robotic Budget is $61K.

DEMOGRAPHICS:

There are almost 1000 elementary, middle, and high schools in the State of Maine. There are close to 200,000 school age children and youth in Maine.

GROWTH GOAL:

Maine Robotics will continue to organize and grow the FIRST LEGO League, Robot Track Meets, FIRST Tech Challenge, Washington County EXPO and similar programs at approximately 10% per year. For summer camps we are expecting to increase from 2007 figures by 80%.

STRENGTHS:

Maine Robotics is the largest single provider of technology programs in the state, not counting classroom activities. Our staff works with hundreds of children every year in a highly successful mentoring based program.

CHALLENGES:

The groups we work with are often faced, as we are, with finding funds from within and without the school districts. Everyone seems to accept the importance of training our youth into the fields of science, mathematics, computers, engineering and technology; but we do not have access to the support, either fiscal or administrative that sports or arts programs currently have.

See PowerPoint presentation