Fondy Fire FRC Team 2194

About Fondy Fire Robotics

Unlike other FIRST robotics teams, Fondy Fire does not represent a single school. We are a group of people, a true team, hailing from three counties, and countless school districts. Student team members represent schools including: Lomira High school, Horace Mann High school, St. Mary's Springs High school, Fond du Lac High school and Winnebago Lutheran High school. Our teammates include homeschooled students as well as students who travel a significant distance to demonstrate their committment to science and technology. We unite for the same cause: a love of innovation, technology, and science. Though our methods may evade convention our vision reflects that of all FIRST robotics:

"The Fondy Fire Robotic Team's vision is to promote science and technology to high school students and to our community. Through the use of side-by-side learning from mentors from the community, students are introduced to the world of science and technology. Our team partcipates in FIRST Robotics Cometition (FRC) events. In addition to promoting Innovation and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, FIRST also promotes its trademark ethos of Gracious Professionalism abnd Coopertition. Fondy Fire emphasizes these values to its team members and to our community"

Mission

The Fondy Fire Robotics Team was established for the following purposes:

To change the culture of our community so that science and technology is celebrated, and that young people are inspired to pursue careers in science and technology
To inspire students to explore, experience and appreciate technology, math, science and engineering thorugh hands-on participation in team activities
to prepare students for leadership roles through shared decision making within our team
To promote the ideals of FIRST in all that we do
To increase community and state awareness of engineering education opportunities
To promote teamwork and communication skills
To introduce students to positive role models and inspire them to become positive role models themselves

In order to encourage further involvement in science and technology, along with Fondy Heat, we continue to provide hands-on workshops and demonstrations to organizations such as Scouting Troops, local service clubs such as Rotary Club, school events and the Fond du Lac Children's Museum. If you or your organization is interested in a science-related hands-on activity please contact us! We love to promote the vision that FIRST embraces!

Our robotics team, along with all of the Fondy Heat Vex Robotics Teams, are looking forward to presenting our robots at various events throughout Fond du Lac County as well as the greater Wisconsin region. We participate in events throughout Wisconsin as well as in Illinois. We will continue to provide hands-on activities at Walleye Weekend in Fond du Lac, Oktoberfest in Appleton, Summerfest in Milwaukee as well as RiverFest in Illinois. We also are present and provide resources at varieties of other local events. We hope our demonstrations and presentations will encourage young people to become interested in science and engineering, as well as to encourage new members to join us or simply act on their interests.

Our History

FondyFire Robotics Team 2194 was the brainchild of the McEathron family. Looking to promote the interest that her children had in science and technology-related topic, Lori McEathron attended a FIRST Competition and were immediately caught up in the excitement that is embedded in these events. Their son Carter was soon actively engaged in all that is FIRST! After much exploration the McEathron family was able to secure both a home for this up-and-coming team at Moraine Park Technical College in the Integrated Manufacturing Center (IMC) as well as funding through NASA. But the story isn't over, for a team also needs members! Advertisements were placed in local newpapers and school districts were contacted. Science teachers within local schools were asked to promote this unique team adventure within their classes, and mentors were secured from a variety of neighborhood businesses and industries. When students and mentors were asked to meet the day of the 2007 kick-off event, no one expected that this fledgling team would so quickly win over the hearts of many in the greater Fond du Lac area. These students soon presented a strong positive presence to younger students within schools, and mentors could not contain their excitement! For the first build season for this young team had started! Little did these students and mentors know at that time that FondyFire would grow to be the team it is today! Moraine Park Technical College continues to provide much needed resources for this unique team, and students from all school districts are welcomed into this group of future leaders.

Fondy Fire takes pride in mentoring rookie FRC teams each year. We continue to rely on N.E.W. Apple Corps Robotics located in Appleton, Wisconsin for their exceptional guidance and advice. We consider the team members from Team 93, N.E.W. Apple Corps Robotics our friends, and we look forward to spending time with them at competitions.