School groups and assemblies

[preacher]

I love the interaction and content that everyone is throwing out there for starting groups in schools, there is definitely a great desire to see the hobby grow with our youth!

Here's a question I want to toss out to see what kind of feedback there is: School clubs are great and a lot of FT fans' focus, but what about the schools that have no FT'ers or individuals interested in the hobby? What I'm saying is, we have a great number of people wanting to start clubs in schools (AWESOME!!) but what about the schools that don't have any with that interest? We need a plan of attack to get the interest into the schools, we need to develop a school assembly program that will introduce FT, and essentially the hobby, into the schools.

Here's where I bring my gifts/talents to the table. I'm working with FT on developing this plan of attack. And, as with everything that FT does, the community's voice is a GREAT resource. My request is for anyone who has any thoughts/ideas for school assembly programs to let me know. I know that there are a lot of you out there that have a desire to see FT and our hobby continue on to the next generation, and we want to make that happen!

I hope to learn more about the FT family and to impact the next generation through our combined efforts to grow FT and impact the hobby in the future through our children! As the crew always says, it's all about making memories. Let's help provide opportunities for the next generation to make great memories with those they love.

Thanks for your time! I hope everyone has a great day!!

 

[FrustratedFoamie]

FT Assemblies

Hi Lee, it's me Nathan. I know I wanted to have an event at my local field, but I feel like having a school R/C program is more important considering the amount of kids at my school, grades 5-8. We do have an engineering/problem solving after school program that focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. We compete in TARC Rocketry and LEGO Robotics, but I wanted to add another aspect to the entire school. Aviation. The only people that recognizes R/C in my school are my close friends and a couple of my science classmates, because I brought my Nano QX to science class a couple times, but other than that, nearly no one. It would be amazing to have and assembly about the outreach, and purpose of Flite Test. I feel like there is so much more potential in most kids at my school, (even though some are kind of disrespectful, inappropriate, and immature). I hope you guys get something worked out. Good luck.

 

[earthsciteach]

FrustratedFoamie - I really respect your desire to increase the number of STEM programs in your school. I also can relate to your statement about unfulfilled potential in kids due to disrespect, inappropriateness and immaturity. I teach high school, both 9th grade Physical Science and Physics to 11 and 12th graders. The difference between the grade levels is actually, well, mind boggling.

When I taught 8th grade, I ran an RC flight club at my school, along with another teacher. It was an awesome experience. I hope to do the same again, one day. It was really positive for the kids who were involved. I hope to do the same, again at my high school.

My advice to you is to seek out a teacher you feel would be willing to be advisor to an RC club at your school. Ideally, that person would have experience with RC flight, or an understanding of technology. A technical education teacher would be ideal.

If that doesn't pan out, keep pushing yourself to learn. The great thing about the hobby in this day and age is that you can learn to do almost anything via the internet. Ask questions on this forum and any others you feel comfortable with. Build, even if you think you have no idea of what you are doing! That's how you learn and grow. When stuck on a problem, try something. Even if it doesn't work, you will have grown. Don't ever ask someone else to try an idea that you have. Try it yourself! You will be amazed at what you can accomplish. This mindset, one of independence and a willingness to try something, will serve you well in your future!

Keep pushing yourself!

 

[AkimboGlueGuns]

Going to a large(ish) high school may have a pretty decent advantage in having a BIG field house. I've been wanting to start up a RC club among students. I haven't really taken any major steps towards that yet, but a new semester just started so as far as I'm concerned its still an option. Any tips on getting a club going would be spectacular!

 

[Raptortech]

Going to a large(ish) high school may have a pretty decent advantage in having a BIG field house. I've been wanting to start up a RC club among students. I haven't really taken any major steps towards that yet, but a new semester just started so as far as I'm concerned its still an option. Any tips on getting a club going would be spectacular!

I founded a club at my school at the start of last year! We have about 6 kids who fly/build regularly, and I'm the only one who knew RC before starting the club.

Tips on getting started:
- Fly something showy like the Viggen in a place where people from your school will be able to see you. It generates loads of interest!
- Have a shopping list ready for noobies! I basically had a list of parts from hobbyking that came to $130 all told, and I bought a crate of DTFB. I had everyone buy the parts and we all built FT Flyers.
- Facebook is crucial for organization.
- Have some of your own planes that you can use to teach noobies to fly. Buddyboxing helps!
- Before people fly, have them download a free simulator like Absolute RC on their smartphones and play around for an hour or so. If you have access to computer simulators, I guess that's ideal, but I didn't.
- When people start building/flying their own planes, make yourself available to answer questions.

Last year, I had 4 people who flew regularly, and two of us already knew RC coming in. I started the club a bit late in the year (Nov) so most prospective pilots were already involved in other activities. This year, I got the club going right away in September, and people made space for it in their schedules.

I had everyone scratch build for their first plane, and I chose the FT Flyer because it's very easy. I let people try flying a trainer I build called the Fish, and most people decided they liked that more than the FT flyer, so almost everyone built one of those and took the parts off the FT flyers. It flies a bit slower and it's more stable, but it's a bit harder to build.

The basic organization is we meet at my house on Saturdays to build/repair for about 90 minutes, then we walk down the high school athletic fields to fly together for another 90 minutes. The weather is not exactly great here in Boston, so I talked to the athletic department director and we have 60 minutes of flying time on Friday evenings in the basketball gym. Most of the kids bought cheap RTF quads to fly inside. Some people also fly The Fish inside. The FT Flyer seems to be too fast to use in our gym.

 

[thediehlio]

hey good to hear other people are interested. I have started a group at my high school and let me just say, if you start it, they will come. I know that you may not know anyone you think is interested, but there is something appetizing about things that fly that just grabs people. I was expecting only about 8 people being interested, but 16 are now in my club! It has been great, and I will be leading it for 4 years hopefully as this is my freshman year. Put up posters with cool pics and talk to all your friends. You will be surprised.

Good luck, and happy flying!

 

[makattack]

I'm glad to see that students are taking a leadership role in organizing these clubs. I think that's the key. My RC club tried to encourage a local HS in the same town where we fly to start up a club at the school, but because we just didn't have faculty contact and awareness, we couldn't get it off the ground. Instead, we've changed our membership policy to provide free membership to people under 19 (like the AMA) and are offering a build class at a local hobby shop. I'll be assisting in that class on a volunteer basis (actually, the lead instructor is also volunteering his time) and it'll be open to all ages.

Happy building and flying y'all!

 

[cranialrectosis]

My concern is cost. Fixed wing is hard to fly here. All the parks are banned so it really has to be multi-rotors. A full kit is gonna be at least $200 and that doesn't include Transmitter or battery gear.

If you are going to teach a school how to build and fly an Electrohub how many copters would you want to build in a class of 6 or 8?

 

[makattack]

For quads/multirotors, this wouldn't be necessarily a beginners build, but cost-wise, it seems like it would cost just a bit more than a BNF nanoqx to make an alienwii based brushed micro quad:

http://micro-motor-warehouse.com/collections/7mm-custom-builds

The advantage of this to buying a nanoqx would be the learning aspect, and of course, it would be a better performing quad.

 

[cranialrectosis]

That is cool. No ESCs. Clear body. I have no idea how to program that flight controller and it is sold out ATM, tho.

I think I will bring in one or more of my copters (disassembled) to have more diversity and more to build so more kids/teachers get hands on. I have 3 FT kits of my own and that could bring in a copter for every two students.

 

[cranialrectosis]

I went down to the school yesterday and met with the Technology Director. I brought in a few of my toys and while it was bitter bitter cold and windy outside and we were unable to fly outdoors, I did connect lipos and showed off lights and basic functions.

I also took in my HubsanX4. In order to convince folks to fly, I first took off and flew full tilt boogie right into me. The copter hit me, smacked the tile floor, bent two rotors and one rotor popped off. I (of course) took no damage, the rotors were straightened out with my thumbnail and the missing rotor replaced by pressing it into position. After than, the fear factor was greatly reduced and people could lighten up and have fun.

I am going to go back with a pair of Syma X1s.

It looks like this is going to go. I filled out the paperwork and the school and I are starting to purchase kits and transmitters etc...

 

[Raptortech]

I filled out the paperwork and the school and I are starting to purchase kits and transmitters etc...

Your school is paying for you?!?!?! Lucky!!!!! One of the biggest problems we have as a club is getting kids past the initial $150 investment!

 

[makattack]

I believe he's using his own funds for this commendable purpose to help educate and expose those students to this great hobby. Nice going, and great news CR!

 

[cranialrectosis]

I am asking the school to go 50/50.

I provide 2 Syma X1s and a fully loaded FT kit and my time as a donation. I will also provide a few of my models to rebuild to use as tutorials.

The school needs to invest in transmitters, receivers, lipos a lipo charger and safety bags. We are looking at the Accucel6 due to its diversity.

A Taranis transmitter should cost <> $200. The Accucel and power supply and lipos and lipo bags <> $100. The FT kit will be about $150. The Zymas about $35 each. The wiring, LED strips, heat shrink, my spare motors and my kits should round out at <> $100.

The company I work for has made it possible for me to be available so long as I complete my assigned tasks. This won't cost my employer, but they make it easy. This is one place where I am truly fortunate.

A transmitter should last years. Once purchased, they may be used over and again and for many different craft far and above what I will be bringing in.

The lipos are a fire hazard. I will demonstrate lipo safety and how to charge lipos but school faculty will be responsible for lipo handling, charging, storage and disposal.

These are my terms and were part of my original proposal.

 

[brian79cj]

Have you thought about a couple cheap Tx? I am thinking about how the kids might not respect how fragile they are and drop them. Keep the Taranis for special projects or more skilled flyers?

 

[cranialrectosis]

The school is thinking about a case. Lanyards are a definite must. I concur. It will be something we watch closely.