POBots 2015-16 Website!! :)

Community Service is an important part of the POBots' season. Like Dean Kamen and Woodie Flowers, founders of FIRST Robotics, we believe that giving back to the community is an obligation, and one we are happy to fulfill.  And, like Dean and Woodie, we believe that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education is critical to the future of our country and its young people.

In November, 2015 the POBots hosted their 8th Annual Engineering Awareness Night for kids of all ages. Kids learned about STEM and FIRST Robotics by driving FRC and Vex robots, touring the POBots Workshop and participating in STEM is FUN! activities.

During the 2015-2016 FIRST Robotics season, the POBots created STEM is FUN! a series of STEM-related experiences that we have shared at more than a dozen events throughout our community. Every child who learned that STEM is FUN! with the PObots signed a link on our STEM is FUN! Chain.  As of March 20, 2016, the STEM is FUN! Chain has 1,449 links, measuring 225 feet, or 38 1/2 King Kunzes, the POBots’ official unit of measure, honoring our mentor, Mr. Steven Kunz.

We also created two resources so that kids can learn that STEM is FUN! at home, and adults (including: school districts, parents, home schoolers, teachers, community groups, camps and scout troops) can replicate our STEM is FUN! activities themselves.

If you are interested in the POBots helping you create your own STEM is FUN! event, please email: STEMisFUN@POBots.com and put STEM is FUN in the subject line.

This year POBots mentored 4 FLL teams: The Thunder Hawks, a home team in Plainview - Old Bethpage; Omega POBots 2.0 and Beta POBots 2.0 at Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School; and the Soaring Rockettes from Valley Stream. We are so proud that the Soaring Rockettes, a rookie Girl Scout Troop, came in 7th in Robot Performance at the SBPLI Qualifier!

FIRST Team 5030, The Second Mouse, was started 3 years ago in Western New York by 3 POBots alumni, Dominic Ferone, Ben Weiss, and Justin Melnitsky. At the 2016 NYC FIRST Javits Competition, the Second Mouse was Captain of their alliance in the Playoffs, leading their alliance to victory and another trip to St. Louis! We are so proud of our alumni. Go Team 5030!

The Game Loft: Kids Like Us: The POBots sent gently used board and card games, as well as POBots string bags & POBots pins, to kids at The Game Loft in Belfast, Maine. The Game Loft is an after-school and weekend program for low-income kids. It’s a place for them learn social and leadership skills and make friends playing non-electronic games, LARPing, and making chain mail, particularly appropriate for this year's FIRST Robotics FRC Competition: FIRST Stronghold.   

The POBots continue to support the Grandparent Family Apartments, a 50-unit building in the South Bronx housing grandparents and the grandchildren they are raising. We donated clothing, books and toys to the kids and their grandparents.

Beginning in August, the POBots made 6000 Rainbow Ribbons for The Network, Long Island’s LGBTQ Service & Advocacy organization, to distribute to high schools throughout Long Island.

We are already looking forward to next season and bringing our STEM is FUN! activities and enthusiasm to even more kids, and continuing to support non-profits that help kids learn and grow.