A Life-Saving Search & Rescue: The Journey to Mission Success
Pt. 3 of 4 – A Connected Community
Welcome back!
Since the start of team SPOT-R’s Journey and Discovery, the
students worked with local schools throughout the 2015-2016 school year to
craft educational materials, including researching and developing the
activity booklets used to
highlight SPOT-R’s educational outreach.
Summer of 2016 was SPOT-R’s opportunity to effectively
engage the community with planned activities they scheduled at the annual
Fourth of July Festival and Back-to-School Bash. Also during this time, the student team created a web
page called
appsci.weebly.com and a Facebook page for the Appalachian Science Experiment and SPOT-R program .
“We have designed elements such as coloring sheets, mazes, and crossword puzzles,” said SPOT-R. “We have strengthened our relationships with schools and other educational venues.”
Since team SPOT -R’s first showcasing of their drone display, at eCYBERMISSION’s 2015 National Judging & Educational Event (NJ&EE), it’s become their most effective outreach program in the community. The NJ&EE showcase helped SPOT-R build more confidence in public speaking.
During the well-attended annual Back-to-School Bash in Avery County, the
team demonstrated the drone device’s full potential. The team also
generated buzz around a popular kids game they designed called, ‘Pin the
Hiker on SPOT -R.’
Children were blindfolded
and attempted to stick the hiker on the dog's picture. All participants received an activity booklet, and "winners" got to pick a
prize—pencil,
stamper,
or
other goody with the SPOT -R paw-print.
Community Events
The Appalachian Science Experiment
out of North Carolina has developed the teams’ relationship with the Crossnore Volunteer
Fire Department, now primary community sponsor for SPOT-R. In addition, other local rescue organizations have taken interest and started
creating recruitment tools—brochure
re-design— to be used with SPOT-R. Four
new
members have joined
the Appalachian Science Experiment, and others have expressed interest in joining, so
the program
continues to be well supported.
Through a number of community events,
SPOT-R has worked
to expand education outreach efforts.
As mentioned in Pt. 1 – Journey, the team first revealed the SPOT-R drone
device at their local YMCA’s Chapman Center as part of the North Carolina
Science Fair on April 21, 2016.
As part of
the
North Carolina
Science Festival, the
team was invited to a reception at the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh.
One individual at the reception, in particular, was very impressed with the
team’s work and extended an invitation to participate in the Burlington Mini-Maker Faire. The Mini-Maker Faire is a community event
connecting people with ALL-thing science; Features hundreds of all-STEM
exhibitors and exhibits.
“We met other builders and innovators, including multi-rotor enthusiasts, who were excited about the technology for search and rescue,” said team SPOT-R. “This event also allowed us to build great relationships."
STAY TUNED for Pt. 4 of 4 – Mission Success!
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