By Yusuf Shaikh
At ITKAN, we love seeing our teams share what they’ve learned with the people around them. ITKAN Future Gen 28919, an ITKAN FIRST Tech Challenge team, recently spent a morning with Boy Scout Troop 3104 and its Cub Scout pack, introducing both groups to robotics and the FIRST program. The visit gave scouts of all ages a chance to see a competition robot up close, ask questions, and try building something of their own.
Presenting to Boy Scout Troop 3104
The team began by presenting their robot to the Boy Scouts. Team members walked the scouts through how the robot was designed and built, how it’s programmed, and what it’s expected to do on the field. They also explained how FIRST Tech Challenge works, from the yearly game reveal and the build season to qualifiers, awards, and the role of outreach and documentation in a team’s success. Many of the scouts had questions about how they could get involved, and the team was glad to share how students can join or start an FTC team of their own.
Introducing the Cub Scouts to FTC
Next, the team gave a similar presentation to the Cub Scouts. They showed off the robot, drove it around, and explained in simpler terms what an FTC team does and how students work together to build and compete with a robot. The younger scouts were excited to see the robot in action and had plenty of questions of their own.
Building Scribble Bots
To give the Cub Scouts some hands-on experience, the team led a scribble bot activity. Each scout built a small robot using a motor, a battery, and markers for legs. When switched on, the motor makes the bot wobble across the paper and draw patterns as it moves. Team members helped the scouts put their bots together and test them out, and the scouts had fun watching their creations scribble across the table. The activity was a simple way to show how motors, power, and design come together, and it gave each scout something they built themselves to take home.
Building a Lasting Impact
By sharing their robot and their experience in FTC, ITKAN Future Gen gave both the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts a first look at what robotics can offer. We’re proud of the team for representing ITKAN so well and for helping younger students see that building robots is something they can do too. Events like this reflect the spirit of FIRST and ITKAN’s commitment to inspiring future innovators through hands-on learning and community involvement.