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Welcome to the 2016 June Rocky Mountain BEST Newsletter. In this newsletter is our 2016 schedule and our 2016 game logo; updated list of signed up 2016 schools; list of near term volunteer needs including the July-August Game Field volunteering; BEST at NSTA STEM Forum & Expo in Denver 27-29 July: and preview of RM BEST Outreach at 13 August Erie Air Fair .
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Helping inspire youth for a lifetime!
Help us b
ring a 7th year of BEST robotics to over 400 Colorado Middle & High School Students with the 2016 BET THE FARM game!
"
We are giving vision to young men and women, they may not be able to find otherwise, that will take them places they would not be able to go without this experience. I am proud to serve with you, investing in the hope of our future."
Jon Barber , Volunteer, Pit Boss
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2016 Game BET THE FARM
To Challenge and Inspire Student Teams!
Rocky Mountain BEST has established the dates for our fall competition events and summer workshop event. Please save the event dates so you can volunteer or attend these events. We are working to finalize the Kickoff and Practice Day Venues.
With this newsletter, we are introducing our 2016 Rocky Mountain BEST Logo here beside the BEST Robotics game logo. Wait until you see our 2016 Volunteer T-shirts!
2016 RM BEST Event
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Event Time and Place
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Teacher / Mentor Institute - two-day teacher/ mentor training provided jointly with Front Range BEST Hub
Attendance by invitation: Teachers/ Mentors. NO STUDENTS.
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Thursday & Friday, 21-22 July
Metropolitan State University of Denver Student Success Building
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Kickoff - Game revealed, student and teacher/ mentor training and protobot demo.
Attendance by invitation: Student teams and Teachers/ Mentors.
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Saturday, 3 September
(Labor Day Weekend)
Noon - 4 PM
South High School Denver
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Practice Day - Time for student teams to practice with their robots on 4 quadrant game field.
Attendance open to the public.
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Saturday, 8 October
9 AM - 3 PM
South High School Denver
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Game Day - Student teams compete for awards on 4 quadrant game field.
Attendance open to the public.
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Saturday, 15 October
7 AM - 5:00 PM
Metropolitan State University of Denver Auraria Event Center
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2016 BEST Game Teaser BET THE FARM |
The full details of the BET THE FARM game will be revealed to the student teams at the September Kickoff Event.
In case you missed it, our national BEST Robotics Inc. organization has released a 90 second Game Teaser Video for this year's Game - BET THE FARM. This year's game teaser is available on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx7TeeGObHw
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PARTICIPATING ROCKY MTN BEST 2016 SCHOOLS
We will be hosting 28 Schools + 1 Alternate at our 2016 Competition
We are thrilled to have 26 schools signed up for the 2016 Rocky Mountain BEST
competition. Teachers may continue to sign up their teams for the 2016
BET THE
FARM
competition.
We are coordinating with the Front Range BEST Hub team who are recruiting schools from the southwestern
portion of the Denver metro area including Douglas County. In addition, SoCo BEST @Trinidad State is recruiting teachers in southern Colorado and new Golden Plains BEST in Julesburg, Colorado is recruiting teachers in
northeastern Colorado. Rocky Mountain BEST is also talking with teachers from other areas in
Colorado.
Of the 26 signed up schools listed in the table below, the schools
marked with a * are new to BEST.
We will continue to sign up schools through August with a waiting list once we fill our available slots.
Please ask any interested schools to contact Linda King at linda.king@bestinc.org (during July)
for Rocky Mountain BEST, Tami Kirkland at
Tami.Kirkland@frontrangebest.org for Front Range BEST, Debbie Ulibarri at Debbie.Ulibarri@trinidadstate.edu for SoCo@TrinidadState BEST, and Larry Turner at larryturner08@yahoo.com
for the new Golden Plains BEST.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEST SIGNED UP SCHOOLS as of 30 June 2016
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School District/City
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Abraham Lincoln High School * |
Denver |
Aurora Frontier P-8 * |
Aurora |
Bishop Machebeuf High School |
Denver |
Broomfield High School |
Boulder Valley |
Columbine Middle School * |
Montrose |
Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design * |
Denver |
DSST Byers |
Denver |
DSST Cole High School |
Denver |
DSST Green Valley Ranch High School |
Denver
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DSST Stapleton High School |
Denver |
Gateway High School |
Aurora |
High Tech Early College |
Denver |
Hill Middle School * |
Denver |
Innovation Center of the St. Vrain Valley School District |
St. Vrain Valley |
Manning Middle School |
Jeffco |
Mrachek Middle School |
Aurora |
New Vista High School |
Boulder Valley |
Ralston Valley High School |
Jeffco |
Skinner Middle School |
Denver |
Skyline High School |
St. Vrain Valley |
St. Mary's Academy (Middle School) * |
Englewood |
Thomas Jefferson High School |
Denver |
University Schools * |
Greeley |
Vista Peak Exploratory * |
Aurora |
Walt Clark Middle School * |
Larimer |
Wheat Ridge High School |
Jeffco |
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Near Term 2016
BET THE FARM Volunteers
Check out the Opportunities to Join in the Fun this Summer!
In the table below are several opportunities to help bring BEST Robotics to the Denver metro area.
This month, we started building preparations for the 2016 BET THE FARM game field. We are contacting the 2015 builders to check on their interest. See more information below to see if this is good fit for you in July and August.
In July, we'll be identifying the many volunteer positions for the September and October events. No experience required fro many positions.
P
lease save 3 September, 8 October and 15 October for volunteering at the fall events.
Volunteer Position
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Position Details
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Rocky Mtn BEST Monday Kit Team -
Currently finishing refurbishment of tested 2015 kits to prepare for 2016 kit distribution. Preparing final inventory in July. Finishing preparation of materials for July Teacher / Mentor Institute.
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Most Mondays ~10 AM - 1 PM followed by lunch at a local restaurant.
999 Vallejo St #2 (Unit 34) in Denver near I-25 and 8th Avenue.
Contact Carolyn at cbauer@rmbest.org for more information.
We can
always use an extra hand and no experience or specific skill is needed.
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Front Range BEST Hub Volunteers -
The Front Range BEST hub needs volunteers to help with the competition in the southwestern portion of the
Metro Denver area.
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Primary Activities are July- October.
Please contact Tami Kirkland at
Tami.Kirkland@frontrangebest.org
if you, friends, or family are interested in joining in the fun with this great group. No prior BEST robotics experience required.
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Rocky Mtn BEST Hub Awards and Judging Lead - this position
coordinates all the Award and Judging activities including: training for student teams and judging volunteers; arranging for judging leads and judging volunteers to fill the judging slots for Game Day; and procuring Student Team Awards. If you know someone to share this responsibility, co-leads are encouraged.
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Primary Activities are July- October.
Volunteer is able to determine schedule with attendance at Game Day on 15 October required.
Effort is estimated as approximately 4 hours per week.
All the subcommittee positions have excellent leads in place to support Awards and Judging Lead. Prior experience as a BEST volunteer helpful - especially in judging - but it is not required.
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Rocky Mtn BEST Game
Field Builders
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Use BEST-provided drawings to construct and assemble game field components. Multiple separate components permit multiple independent helpers to separately construct their components. Tools needed include the following depending on component: saws to cut plywood, lumber, foam, and PVC; wood sander; paint brushes; drill for screw holes; and screw drills / drivers.
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Primary Activities are July- August.
We expect to have final drawings and the material for the Game Field components available by mid-July. Full assembly of most components and associated testing to be completed by 20 August.
A rough estimate of time required is as little as 4 and up to 40 hours depending on component.
Skills needed include: read drawings, construct using tools, assemble components with glue (PVC), screws, and hinges, and paint components.
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BEST Robotics Inc. Driving Growth and Advancement
Rosemary Mendel New Executive Director
BEST Robotics Inc (BRI) welcomed Rosemary Mendel as the organization's new Executive Director at the April 2016 BEST Prototype Weekend in Wichita. Rosemary is a seasoned nonprofit executive with more than 30 years' experience in management, development and fundraising; with a diverse background representing organizations in social service, medicine, college athletics, and the arts. She has served top Pittsburgh area nonprofits such as: the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh; and the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.
In 2014, Rosemary was named one of the Pittsburgh 50 Smart Business Leaders by Smart Business magazine, one of only three nonprofit leaders recognized in the group.
BEST Robotics Inc Booth at NSTA STEM Forum & Expo,
Denver: July 27-29
R
ocky Mountain BEST and Front Range BEST volunteers are working with Rosemary Mendel from BRI to provide a BEST Robotics booth at the National Science Teachers Association hosted
5th annual STEM Forum & Expo at the Colorado Convention Center 27-29 July.
From the registration website the event is "a unique, focused event that brings together (informal and formal) educators, administrators, and representatives from exhibiting companies who are interested in-as well as have tools and resources to share-that will ensure successful implementation of STEM education into our schools and communities."
We are excited to have DSST Byers and STEM Academy students demonstrating their 2015 robots and the game field at the event.
Rocky Mountain BEST and Front Range BEST will be supporting the BEST Robotics Inc booth explaining the BEST program to teachers on 27-29 July. Please contact me at Linda.King@bestinc.org if you are interested in helping us staff the booth during these 3 days.
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BEST Outreach @ Erie Air Fair , Saturday, 13 August
10 AM - 4 PM at Erie Municipal Airport - 395 Airport Rd Erie, CO
Rocky Mountain BEST is participating in the children's Adventure Zone on 13 August at the Erie Air Fair. Attendance is FREE and parking is FREE!
RM BEST will be helping participants assemble binary bead bracelets. And, of course, we'll have information about RM BEST and the 2016 game.
Erie Air Fair event at Erie Municipal Airport. From their website: "The format is a positive family oriented community event including displays of unique aircraft, cars, local and regional vendors, a Beer & Wine Garden, Helicopter rides, historical displays, children's "Adventure Zone" and multiple renowned musical entertainment groups, including Global Sound Studio & FACE Vocal Band."
We hope to see you there!!
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ADDITIONAL WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE
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Benevity -
If your company has gift matching through Benevity, Rocky Mountain BEST is one of the eligible non-profit organizations. Please check with your company about gift matching!
Kroger Gift Card - If you have a Rocky Mountain BEST King Soopers Gift Card,
Kroger donates 5% of EVERY gift card purchase -- including card refills -- to Rocky Mountain BEST...
all at no cost to you -- FOREVER!
Everyone needs groceries and gas. Remember to use your Rocky Mountain BEST Gift card to benefit Rocky Mountain BEST. It's really easy. Since 1 Oct 2015, Kroger has donated over $1450 to Rocky Mountain BEST because of purchases from one of our cards! Interested? Contact Lois Walton at lwalton@rmbest.org to make arrangements to purchase a card.
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Amazon Smile -
Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Rocky Mountain BEST whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.
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