Team leaders, there are a number of Week Zero scrimmages (Feb 18th or 19th) to give teams an opportunity to practice the STEAMworks game before bag day.  If you don’t feel like your team can participate, I would highly recommend sending some students to observe the game play and strategies.  Also note, the District 196 STEM Career Fair details are below.  They have given students an opportunity to explore career options for a number of years and do an exceptional job.

Volunteers Wanted!

The 4 Minnesota regional events, as well as those in Iowa and Western Wisconsin (the new 7 Rivers Regional) invite mentors and team-associated volunteers (especially parents) to volunteer for the 2017 Regional Events. Crews are need for queuing, field reset, practice field; Teams are invited to apply to staff the safety glasses stations for a half-day of the events, Thursday through Saturday afternoon. Volunteer event applications are through the FIRST VIMS, on the firstinspires website (https://my.firstinspires.org/FIRSTPortal/Login/VIMS_Login.aspx). Also new this year, Teams are invited to have one student per team — submit for consideration to be a Regional Event Ambassador. Applications should be made via the FIRST VIMS. Questions, please write to Laurie Shimizu, lshimizu@firstinspires.org

District 196 STEM Career Fair

The 2017 District 196 STEM Career Fair is at Apple Valley High School, Thursday, February 16, 6:30-8:30pm.    This event is open to ALL student in grades 8-12  and their parents.  Student not from District 196 are MORE than welcome to come attend this free event.  We will have almost 200 STEM professionals at this 2017 event ready to meet kids and talk to them about their careers.  See www.district196.org/stemfair for more information.

Here is a link to a highlight video from the 2015 event – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQd8MYZFM-E

Week Zero events (http://www.mnfirst.org/offseason/preregional):

Itasca Community College
Date:  Sunday, February 19th
Time:  8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Location:  Itasca Community College, Grand Rapids, MN
Features: full size course, mock robot inspections, team judging practice, weighing scale, field element practice time, matches.
An all around upbeat environment for teams to collaborate, practice, and work on improvements before the robots are sealed prior to competition.
Event Fee:  75.00/team  (Event fees go toward course building supplies and scrimmage day awards)
Registration:  Use the link below to access further scrimmage detail and register your team by Monday, February 13th.
https://iccfirst2017.eventbrite.com

Southwest Hub hosted by Talon Robotics, Team 2502 (note: last year this event was held at Chanhassen High School)
Date: Sunday, February 19th
Time: 7:30am Load-in, practice matches in the morning, matches in the afternoon, Close at 4:00
Location: Forest Hills (Elementary) 13708 Holly Rd., Eden Prairie, MN
Features:  We are excited to announce that one of our sponsors, Continental Engineering and Manufacturing (CEM) has agree to build two full airships based on the FIRST competition design drawings (minus some of the electronics). This will be a great opportunity for teams to see how they interact with an actual airship and practice being a pilot. We will have a full field with all of the field elements.
Event fee: We have had to make changes to the price; due to the large number of game pieces and field elements. A full set of game pieces alone cost $1950. We need to reach out to the teams attending to help provide game pieces or offset our cost to have them available for week 0.

Teams not in the SW Hub = $225
Teams not in the SW Hub with game pieces* = $150
*Game pieces required to bring to get the discount; 24 balls (labeled with team number) AND 2 gears (labeled with team number) Pieces will be returned to the team at the end of the week 0 event.
Registration: https://1drv.ms/xs/s!AoT-opcWa5CRtOUGgPVoFtw5AJ4Cow
Send a check made out to Talon Robotics and send it to; 8518 Darnel Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Questions: If you have questions or want additional information send us an email; mail@team2502.com

Centurion-Krawler Week Zero
Teams 2052 (KnightKrawler) and 2472 (Centurions)
Date: Saturday, February 18th
Location: Centennial High School
Event Fee: $125 and is capped at 30 teams.
Registration and more information:  http://www.team2052.com/2017-week-zero/

Team 2220 Blue Twilight and Team 3184 Burnsville Blaze
Date: February 18th
Location: Eagan High School, 4185 Braddock Trail, Eagan, MN
Features: Your team has the opportunity to practice and compete on a full-size field with representative field elements (Including an Airship!). Your new team members can experience the excitement and get a taste of FIRST Robotics Competition events!  Several FRC Robot Inspectors will be available to check robots and our machine shop will be open to fabricate or repair parts.  There will be Graciously Professional talented students and mentors from many teams available to help.  We are responding to feedback from last year’s event to provide teams with as much field time as possible by incorporating new equipment and procedures.
Event Fee: $125 and rookie teams may contact us at ehs.robotics.2220@gmail.com to discuss a price break
Registration:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenkyOOkyJ4Wb_EO-ysma7s2JtEbp721PMD1BXcYYeVB7bRGQ/viewform?c=0&w=1
More info: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bNKewA_NLl9W5Gjk30I8WPEd-48qeepVRZUi2HgwtMs/edit
Thank you for considering our Week Zero event,
Dave Hendricksen (Head Coach – Eagan Robotics)
Steve Mueller (Head Coach – FRC Team 2220) Cell 651-253-9239

Nevis HS
Location: Nevis HS: 210 Pleasant street, Nevis, MN 56467
Date: Saturday, February 18th
Time: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Features: Mock inspections, Full field from AndyMark!
Cost: $100 per team
Registration: Contact Andrew Dahlby adahlby@nevis308.org or Rusty Uscola ruscola@nevis308.org

Seven Rivers Robotics Coalition Scrimmage
Location: Caledonia Area Public Schools, 825 North Warrior Avenue, Caledonia, MN 55921
Date: Saturday and Sunday, February 18-19
Time: 10-3 Sat, 10:30-6 Sun
Features: https://mnfirst.org/docs/2017/7RRC.pdf
Cost: $100.00 per team
Registration: http://www.7rrc.org/week-0-scrimmage

Regards, Mark Lawrence
Chairman, MN FIRST Regional Planning Committee