Parental involvement is absolutely essential to the success of the Walton Robotics team. What can you do to help the team successfully spread the word about STEM? We need you!

(Without parent commitment and involvement, your student’s application to the Walton Robotics Team will likely be denied.) Let's be clear - as a parent you MUST volunteer - there is no option and it's fun!

Dear Prospective Team Parents:

The Walton Robotics team is a competitive team, not a more typical “club”, that requires extensive time commitments on the part of its student members and their parents. Each year, the team:

• has at least 4 competitions (usually five) that all involve the team traveling overnight*,
• builds a competition and a practice robot,
• builds a full-size practice field for our team and teams around the state to use in preparation for competitions,
• has, at a minimum, weekly team meetings that require adult supervision (more frequent meetings during build season),
• participates in many outreach activities including summer camps, hosting a FIRST Lego League event, and providing a T-shirt cannon at all home football games.

This level of activity represents a major commitment and lot of work for all involved with the team. This requires a huge volunteer effort from parents on behalf of the team. In addition, annual dues, discussed at the information meeting, help with team expenses and pay for team travel.  These fees include travel expenses to our 3 district events, but do NOT include travel to Houston, TX for the world competition if we qualify. If fees are not paid in full by 12/31/2023, your child will be removed from the team and no refund of any monies previously paid will be issued.

Please understand that every family will be required to have at least one parent representative at the following events during the upcoming 2023-24 season:

• mandatory meeting the first week or two of school – on a Wednesday at 6:30 pm.
• our FLL event (usually the first or second Saturday in December – all day commitment)
• mandatory team travel meeting (typically early February, usually a Wednesday at 6:30 – date TBD)
• mandatory tool safety training (for all field build participants – several options, dates TBD)
• mandatory Worlds travel meeting if we qualify (typically the Wednesday after Spring Break at 6:30)
• provide the team with bottled waters, snacks, or soft drinks for build site and travel use

In addition to the above, each family must commit to being involved in at least 3 of the volunteer opportunities listed below during the year. There are many different choices which require time commitments on different days and times of day so everyone, regardless of work and family schedule constraints, should be able to find options that fit into their life.  

Below, you'll have the opportunity to indicate which activities you would like to help with this coming year.

Please take the time to consider if you are willing to make this kind of commitment to the team. We will not accept team members whose parents do not participate at this level. Without all parents participating, we burn out volunteers and do not achieve the impact we target. For example, without enough volunteers, we have to cancel open field nights and team meetings.

If you as a parent are not willing to commit at the level described above, this team is not a good fit for your family.

I look forward to an exciting year in robotics!
Sincerely,

Coach Dana Evans

*Please note that all students are expected to attend all competitions and one of these competitions may occur during Cobb County’s Spring Break. Please make your family travel plans as well as your child’s ACT/SAT testing schedule accordingly. The estimated dates for next year’s competitions are as follows:

Off Season: Usually last weekend of October*
1st and 2nd events: March*
State Champs - (if we qualify): Usually the first Wednesday or Thursday through Saturday of April (this usually overlaps with Spring Break)*
HOUSTON (Worlds if we qualify): Usually the third Tuesday – the third Sunday in April. */**

* We will NOT know the exact dates of our competitions until sometime in October or November. Once these dates are set by Georgia First Robotics, we will communicate them to the team.

**The cost of this trip is not covered in your student’s annual dues. The cost range for this trip is typically $1,800-$2,000 and varies some each year based on expenses such as airfare and hotel costs. Payments for Worlds is due in several installments - first is payment for airline ticket, typically in January, then a $1000 deposit at the mandatory travel meeting in February. Remaining balance due at mandatory Worlds travel meeting.