Outreach Ideas
Creative ways to engage your community and inspire younger students in STEM and robotics.
School & Community Events
Robot Demonstrations
Bring your robot to school assemblies, career days, and science fairs. Let students drive the robot and ask questions.
STEM Fair Booth
Set up an interactive booth where kids can learn about robotics. Show your robot, explain components, and hand out flyers about joining FTC.
Workshop Sessions
Host beginner coding workshops or mechanical design classes for middle school students. Provide hands-on activities and mentorship.
Middle School Mentorship
Partner with local middle schools to mentor their robotics clubs. Visit monthly, share knowledge, and help them build robots.
Fundraising Events
Car Wash
Classic fundraiser! Wash cars for $10-15 each. Set up in a high-traffic location on a Saturday.
Bake Sale
Make and sell baked goods at school or community events. Team members can donate baked items to increase profits.
Garage Sale
Collect donated items from team members' families. Sort and price items, then host a community garage sale.
Pancake Breakfast
Organize a community breakfast event. Charge $8-10 per plate and serve pancakes, eggs, and bacon.
Tournament Hosting
Host a local FTC scrimmage tournament. Charge teams an entry fee while providing a practice competition opportunity.
Online & Social Media Outreach
YouTube Channel
Create build tutorials, match highlights, and team vlogs. Share knowledge and showcase your team's journey.
Instagram & TikTok
Post behind-the-scenes content, robot clips, and team celebrations. Use hashtags like #FTC and #FIRSTRobotics.
Blog & Website
Write articles about robotics concepts, team stories, and competition results. Help younger students learn.
Live Streaming
Stream competition matches and practice sessions. Engage family and community members who can't attend in person.
Community Partnerships
Library Programs
Partner with your local library to host robotics workshops or demonstrations. Libraries often provide space and promotion.
Boys & Girls Club
Work with local clubs to introduce robotics to kids who might not have access at school.
University Collaboration
Connect with local colleges for mentorship, tech talks, and facility access. Students often love helping younger teams.
STEM Expo
Participate in community STEM expos and science museums. Demonstrate your robot and talk about FTC.
Team-Building Outreach
Lunch & Learn Sessions
Host during lunch period to teach students about robotics careers and team opportunities.
Team Open House
Invite interested students to see your workshop, meet team members, and ask questions about joining.
Recruitment Fair
Set up a booth at school recruitment events to attract new members for next season.
Diversity & Inclusion Outreach
Girls in STEM Programs
Host women-focused workshops and recruitment drives to encourage girls to join robotics.
Underrepresented Communities
Partner with community organizations to reach students who traditionally have limited STEM access.
Mentorship Programs
Create mentorship opportunities between experienced team members and new/younger students.
Documentation & Promotion
- Take photos and videos of all outreach events
- Share on social media and local news outlets
- Write thank-you letters to event organizers
- Track attendance and feedback from events
- Use impact stories to show donors your community reach