How to Join

Grade Levels: 9 - 12
Purpose:

Students compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) which boasts 4000+ teams worldwide. With a new challenge presented each January, the team has about 2 months to design, build, and program a 120 lb robot. Playing 3 v. 3 matches on a large field, FRC is dubbed “a varsity sport for the mind.” FRC provides students with hands-on, professional technological and business-minded experience.

Thanks to dedicated adult mentors with extensive professional career experience, Team Members learn and develop skills spanning multiple skill sets including:

  • Mechanical: hands-on manufacturing and robot assembly, including CAD and 3D printing.
  • Controls: electrical engineering; programming for operator robot controls and autonomous routines.
  • Scouting & Strategy: “competitive intelligence” and liaison between CHCA robot drive team and competition alliance members.
  • Business & Branding (B2): communications, public relations and community outreach, documentation and content creation, fundraising and accounting, project management, etc.) 
Months:

Pre-Season: August - December Practices
Monday and Thursday -- 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Team dinner provided)
Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Team “brunch” provided)

Build/Competition Season: January - April Practices
January-February: Intensive 6-8 week robot design and build period
Different roles & responsibilities require more work time.
Monday-Thursday - 4:30 – 9:30 p.m. or later (Team dinner provided)
Saturday - 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or later (Team “brunch” & dinner provided)

Field Set Build: January
Saturdays and other as-scheduled starting 2nd Saturday in January through completion.

Summer Off-Season: May - July Practices
Monday and Thursday - 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. 
Practice Location:

Robotics HQ within 1 mile of campus
11563 Grooms Road, Blue Ash, OH  45242  (map)

CHCA provides bus transportation from the MSL Campus to HQ after school.
Meet / Competition Info:

Pre-Season & Off-Season Competitions: TBA

Competition Season:

  • Mid/late March; Multi-Day (Thursday - Saturday) 2 Regional Tournaments involving overnight travel and missing a few days of school
  • 04/17/24-04/20/24: World Championship held in Houston, TX for qualifying teams
Cost:

$375 for new members (includes Beak Squad Uniform Shirt); $350 for returning members

Additional financial commitments reviewed at Parent Meeting. These include:

  • Team Dinners
  • Student Competition Travel Expenses (transportation, hotel, food):
    • 2 Regional Competitions:  ≈ $500 each
    • World Championship (if qualifying) ≈ $1200
    • Off-Season Competition: ≈  $300

Scholarship opportunities available. Contact Beak Squad Head Coach

**Competition Travel Costs are off-set by successful Corporate Sponsorship & Community Supporter Donations**
Anticipated # of Students: 30
Expected Parent Involvement:
  • Volunteer at Beak Squad hosted events
  • Transport to/from Robotics HQ when not provided by CHCA
  • Help make connections/build partnerships with potential Corporate Sponsors and Community Supporters
  • Attend competitions - We love a good cheering section!
Notes:
  • Check out the Beak Squad microsite (www.chca-oh.org/beaksquad) for more information and regular updates.
  • Each year the team must raise about $40,000 to cover basic robot costs. Funds are raised through Corporate Sponsorships and Community Supporter donations. Want to help? Visit our sponsorship webpage or email Sarah.Hendrix@chca-oh.org.
Head Coach: Sarah.Hendrix@chca-oh.org
How To Register: "Pre Steps" for new-to-Beak Squad students:
  • Email Beak Squad Head Coach to schedule 1-2 practices as a “Shadow”
  • Complete and Return a Speciality Program Parent Agreement (aka Liability Waiver to Shadow)
  • Post shadow, complete these registration steps:
  1. Register in Ultracamp PRIOR to attending your first practice.
  2. Read & Sign Beak Squad Student and Parent/Guardian Handbooks
     
  3. 2023-2024 Student Registration with FIRST (+) Parent Connected
    • Students: Complete during Pre-Season On-boarding @HQ
    • Parents/Guardians: Complete at Parent Meeting with Coach
       
  4. Download Student AND Parent Communication Tools
    • Mobile App “TeamSnap” – invitation sent after UltraCamp completion
    • Mobile or Desktop App “Slack” – invitation sent after UltraCamp completion
Important Dates

08/01/23 - Registration Opens
08/17/23 - Pre-season practices begin (Registration required to attend)
08/28/23 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. @ location TBD - Parent Information Meeting
12/01/23 at 11:59 p.m. - Registration Closes

Beak Squad in the News

CHCA Volunteer Fingerprinting Policy: To maintain the safest environment for our students, CHCA requires ALL volunteers to be fingerprinted PRIOR to the first time volunteering. This includes classroom helpers, event and front desk volunteers, party helpers, coaching and theatre volunteers, field trip drivers (grades K-3), trip chaperones, and regular visitors to our buildings.  It also includes Gr 9-12 students who will have contact with minor children while they volunteer in a CHCA sponsored camp or activity. The check is valid for 5 years.

To make your 5 minute appointment (8:15 a.m. to noon or 1:00 - 3:45 p.m.) at the Welcome Center, email Judi.Davis@chca-oh.org at least 14 days in advance of when you intend to volunteer. While most background checks clear within 14 days, it can take up to 30 days for a background check to successfully clear; therefore, being proactive well in advance of the starting date of work, a camp or volunteer event is necessary to ensure you get the results back timely.

Please bring:

  • Your driver's license or a form of identification if you don't have a driver's license
  • A 2nd form of identification (passport, SS card, or birth certificate)
  • Gr 9-12 minor volunteers should bring this completed Parental Permission form

Thank you in advance to everyone for volunteering, and for helping to ensure the safety of our students. We appreciate you!