In our rookie year (2006/07), Skunkworks Robotics concentration was on building a working robot while building our team. We returned from the competitions excited about FIRST and what we had accomplished. Our focus in involvement is on the team and robotics, on helping and giving back, and on personal growth. Many of our efforts give us opportunities to not only talk about our robotics team, but to inform our audiences about FIRST. We found it fun and rewarding to be involved.

Visiting companies, civic organizations and government
Our robot has had the great pleasure of visiting some of our sponsors and other interested groups. Students have presented to several of our sponsors as well as Rotary clubs. We also have gone to the capitol in Olympia to speak with our legislators. We have toured several companies and saw first hand how they applied science, engineering, and math. We observed robotics in action as it was used in manufacturing and business. We spoke with some of the workers about what we were doing. They found our program exciting and wished us luck.

Fundraising Dinner
Every year Skunkworks hosts a spaghetti dinner and dessert auction to raise additional funds. The team helps in the kitchen, serves the dinner and runs the auction. We always receive a good turnout from the community. This dinner gives us a chance to promote robotics and raise money to run the team.

Local Parade
For the last three years, many of us have gone out with the robot for the Annual 4th of July parade in Burien. We ran our robot during the parade and passed out informational flyers about our team and FIRST. These parades are hard on the tires and drain a few batteries but are always a great way to say thanks. The parade is also a great way to expose our local community to student robotics.

Challenge Air
For the past couple of summers, Skunkworks has packed up its robots and displays and headed to Paine Field in Everett, Washington for Challenge Air. Challenge Air is an event where pilots volunteer their time and planes to take children with disabilities and life-threatening illnesses up for a short ride as co-pilot. While children wait their turns, they are allowed to operate our FRC robot. Team members also help load the planes, set up equipment, and help children into the planes for their flight. We have had a great time. The smiles on the children told us that they had a good time too. We are looking forward to going back every June.