Volume 2025 / 03 | March 2025

Rocky Mountain BEST Volunteer Newsletter

2025 BEST Robotics News & Updates

BEST Robotics Inc. - National Organization:

New Leadership:
Johannes Starks, former Executive Director of BEST of Texas Robotics (BTR), is replacing Michael Steiner as the new Executive Director.
Opportunities for Broader Student Organization Participation:
Community non-profit organizations (eg, Scouts, Boys/Girls Clubs) can now compete too!
If you know of an organization that would like to host a team, please coordinate with Gwynn.Moore@bestinc.org to send an invitation.
New Robot Control Hardware:
The Vex V5 control system will be replacing the obsolete VEX control system this year.
There will be lots of additional work to learn and do this year. If you'd like to help, please reach out to Carolyn.Bauer@bestinc.org.

Rocky Mountain BEST - Board of Director and Steering Team Updates:

Michael Orf valiantly served as our Vice President and is now transitioning to role of member at large. Thank you to Michael for his many contributions--and for continuing to serve this year!
Congratulations to Gwynn Moore who was elected as our new Vice President and also serves as our Team Interface, working to recruit new and existing teams.
Our Board of Directors welcomed Kathy Brown to our Steering Team and Susie Dykstra to our Steering Team and our Board of Directors.
You can find out more about all our membership by clicking on this link.

Boosting BEST

Online Auction Fundraiser

Help recruit donations and spread the word about our annual fundraiser!

Please Help: Donations Needed

Please help collect donations for our online auction.

Willing to contact companies or your favorite store or restaurant to see if they might be willing to donate a gift card or product for our online auction?

Please contact Lois.Walton@bestinc.org to learn more.

Save the Date!

Our annual Boosting BEST auction will be May 16 - 25.

Please help us spread the word about the auction to your friends and family!

Your participation and generosity make it possible to bring our robotics education program to middle & high school students - at no cost to schools

Preparing for the Exciting fActoId Game

Looking forward to this year's Annual Game fActoIds to create a great experience for our teams.

LEADERSHIP TEAM PARTICIPATION IN EARLY SEASON REVIEWS

Saturday 15 March - During the Proto Season Kickoff:

Volunteers met to optimize plans for the game.We can't share much, but the Game Field is a "normal" size / complexity. The game field pieces are mostly small and an easy task for teams to create.

Friday - Saturday, April 25-26 - Prototype Game Weekend (Allen, TX):

BEST's volunteer base continues their feedback and now tests the game with volunteer created robots.

Have you considered mentoring a team?

If so, this training will provide the background you need to get started. To register, complete this Google form.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR MENTORS AND COACHES

SUMMER FREE Coach Training - Denver Teacher Mentor Institute

Early Summer – online pre-class training
Followed by July 15-17 in-person, hands-on training at St Mary’s Catholic Church 6853 S Prince St, Littleton

Participants will have the first look at our new VEX V5 control systems!

Do you know a school or local non-profit group that would like to participate in the 2025 BEST Season?

Interested Teams and Organizations can contact Gwynn.Moore@BESTInc.org for more instructions.

FALL SEASON EVENTS (VENUES AND DATES TBD)

FALL 2025: Local RM BEST Hub Events

Kickoff (Early September)
BEST Robotics kits distribution, game rules revealed and training opportunities (Early September)
Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews (September & October)
30 minute online mentoring sessions during Week 2 and Week 5 to help teams focus and improve their designs
Practice Day (Mid-October)
Provide team access to game field for practice, Engineering Notebook delivery, and judging of optional BEST Award Marketing Presentations
Game Day (Early November)
Head-to-head robot competition and judging, including optional BEST Award Team Exhibits and Interviews

DECEMBER 2025: Denver BEST Regional Championship

2025 GAME TEASER

AI is only as good as its fActoIds. Make sure yours are true.

CLICK to Visit the bESTology Site

bESTology is a weekly resource for schools (teams) participating in the nationwide BEST Robotics program to learn educational and workforce development concepts revolving around the 2025 game – fActoIds.

Through bESTology, students expand their understanding of the game and real-world connections to AI and machine learning.

A new spin on lessons this year is the incorporation of a guiding quote that introduces students to a notable person and pushes them to reflect on how the quote is relevant to the fActoIds game.

Currently Available Lessons:

Lesson 1 - Real vs. Fake News: “The truth is rarely pure and never simple” –Oscar Wilde
Lesson 2 - Judgement, Bias, and Reality: “Too often we… enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” –John F. Kennedy
Lesson 3 - Decision Making: “Decision making is easy when your values are clear.” – Roy E. Disney
Lesson 4 - Machine Language: "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn". – Alvin Toffer
Lesson 5 - AI Tools: "Programming is the Art of Algorithm Design and the Craft of Debugging Code". – Ellen Ullman
Lesson 6 - Algorithms for AI: “AI is not just a technological revolution; it’s also a revolution of ideas and creativity.” ~Robin Li, CEO of Baidu.

More Lessons to be Released Weekly:

Lesson 7 - Interacting with AI
Lesson 8 - Ethics for AI
Lesson 9 - Testing and Training AI Models
Lesson 10 - Benefits of AI

Thanks to RM BEST Volunteer extraordinaire Gwynn Moore who is publishing this year's lessons!

Looking for a great way to spend a Monday?

Join the Kit Team and help us prepare all the materials our teams will receive this fall!

Weekly Monday morning meet-up at our Lakewood warehouse. Relaxed, fun atmosphere. No experience needed! Note: this can be a short- or long-term commitment, depending on your availability.

Since the beginning of the year, the Kit Team has been cleaning up and preparing the returnable and consumable kits to get them ready for the fall.

Starting in May, the team will integrate the new VEX V5 control system components into the Returnable Kits.

If interested in participating, reach out to carolyn.bauer@bestinc.org.

Throwback to our Kit Team

from a decade ago!

Have Extra Hours to Volunteer?

More Ways to Make A Difference

STEERING TEAM POSITION: VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT

We are looking for a volunteer interested in helping with volunteer recruitment and communication.
No robotics or special skills required.
You can support from home: Meetings are held online and include monthly management meetings, and during the fall season, weekly event preparation meetings.
It would be great if you are able to volunteer in person at our events.
To learn more about this team, please contact Carolyn.Bauer@bestinc.org.

NEW SPONSORS: Know a company or foundation that might want to help provide our inspiring STEM program free to schools? Please contact Carolyn.Bauer@bestinc.org to learn more.

Ways to Participate by Donating

Colorado Gives Donations

You can donate ANYTIME at Rocky Mountain BEST at ColoradoGives.org.

Benevity

If your company has gift matching through Benevity, Rocky Mountain BEST is one of the eligible non-profit organizations. Please ask your HR department about Benevity gift matching!

King Soopers/City Market

Do you shop at King Soopers? If so, you can support Rocky Mountain BEST just by doing your normal grocery shopping!

King Soopers recently changed their user interface for connecting your King Soopers account with their rewards program. We will get back to you soon with the new process.

Wondering what to do with your used car or truck?

Donating your old vehicle or boat to ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEST is convenient, easy, and may qualify you for a tax deduction. And best of all, your donation of a used car or truck will make a big difference in supporting ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEST.

Why not donate your vehicle today? All you need to do is to complete our SIMPLE ONLINE FORM or call 1-866-628-2277 and we'll take care of the rest. We will pick up your vehicle, arrange to have your donation towed, and provide you with a tax-deductible receipt, all at no charge to you.

Rocky Mountain BEST Robotics |

| rm.best.info.request@bestinc.org | http://www.rockymountainbest.org/

Build a robot in eight weeks;

inspire a youth for a lifetime

Don't miss out making it possible!