Join Us!

For more information please contact: lexi.m@apesofwrath668.org or lweissman@apesofwrath668.org

Off-Season Schedule

Tuesday: 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

SUBTEAMS

Have an area of interest or expertise? Here’s what we have to offer!

CONTROLS

Interested in automation? Controls works closely with the programming team, focusing on the autonomous portion of the game, working on vision systems (e.g aiming & alignment) with the usage of April Tags. This sub-team also has the involvement of math and usage of simulations for various mechanism controls and robot motion.

BUSINESS

Enjoy writing grants and gathering funds for the team? Business focuses on fundraising money for our team, writing grants, and gathering sponsors, in order for us to be able to continue to keep this team up and running to fulfill the FIRST mission.

Still unsure of what you want to do? No worries! There are no restrictions to what you want to do, or which team you want to be a part of, Simply remember to be safe, work hard, and have fun!

FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

Q: I do not have any prior knowledge or experience, can I still join?

- Yes, although prior knowledge/experience is welcome, it is not expected for new members to know everything. The off-season is the time where different workshops are hosted for new members to get to learn the skills needed for build season, and to figure out what sub-team they want to join. Everyone is required to go to at least one workshop for each sub-team, and after all of the workshops are completed, a fall project is held where new members are then able to apply their new skills.

Q: Do I have to pay a fee to join?

- No! Aside from merchandise, members do not have to pay a fee to join. There may be costs related to travel, but if that is a concern, we will likely be able to work something out with you. We believe that robotics should be open to everyone, regardless of money. However, since we are a non-profit, donations are very welcome!

Q: What grade do I need to be in order to join?

- We accept anyone from grades 7-12, everyone who wants to join in those grades are welcome to come be a member of Team 668!

Q: Do I have to be a student of Pioneer High School to join?

- No, you do not have to be a student of Pioneer High School, or even be a part of San José Unified School District to join. Many of our members come from different schools, or are homeschooled!

Q: When can I join?

- Although the team officially starts operations every year during August, anyone can join the team at any moment during the year, even in the middle of build season. This also means that if you join the team and discover it’s not for you, you can leave at any time.

Q: What are the attendance requirements?

- For both off-season and build season, the minimum attendance requirement is 60%. Attendance is self reported using an attendance bot in the team’s messaging system, Slack, and hours are posted on a spreadsheet that automatically updates. The minimum attendance for the travel team is 75%, although the work you do while you’re there can make up for it. (The travel team is a selection of members within the team that have excused absences from school in order to attend competitions during week days.) Additionally, during the off-season there are mandatory outreach events that have minimum attendance hours also. Attendance for an entire meeting can be excused and not counted in the attendance percentage if there is a valid reason as to why you can’t attend the meeting that day.

Q: Since there are long meetings, is lunch/dinner provided?

- During weekend meetings, lunch break occurs from 12 PM to 1 PM, and many members walk out to the many various food locations nearby the school. During build season, weekday meetings have a dinner break from 5 PM to 6 PM, in which families provide dinner for the entire team. Allergies and diet restrictions will be considered, but there is also a fridge and microwave inside the room if you wish to bring food from home instead. There is also a snack cabinet with a variety of snacks donated by generous families for members to snack on while hard at work.

Q: What if I have lots of homework on a day a meeting is happening?

- We know that many members on the team have lots of homework, and understand that homework is a priority over robotics. Many people leave meetings early in order to complete homework, and during meetings, there is also space upstairs or in the woodshop to complete homework for those who need it.

Q: What do the team demographics look like?

- For gender, 66% of the team identify as male, while the other 44% identify as female, non-binary, or other. As for race, 44.7% of members are Asian, 36.2% are White, 6.4% are Hispanic, 6.4% are mixed race, 2.1% are Black/African American, and 4.3% are non-specified. Additionally, 19% of our members identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and 10% of members identify as disabled. Also, 51.1% of members are first-generation immigrants.

If you have additional questions that have not been answered here, please contact us at info@team668.org!