Join the Pi-oneers for Season 21!

Student Membership

Membership is now open to all students of the Pascack Valley Regional High School District.

Volunteering for FIRST or the Pascack Pi-oneers is very much appreciated. Our team is grateful for the volunteer mentors who guide and teach our team members to be the best they can be every year. To be considered for a mentor position, please get in touch.

Mentor Volunteering

Volunteering for FIRST or the Pascack Pi-oneers is very much appreciated. Our team is grateful for the volunteer mentors who guide and teach our team members to be the best they can be every year. To be considered for a mentor position, please get in touch.

WHY JOIN OUR ROBOTICS TEAM?

Leave Your Mark: Imagine creating a robot that helps students with disabilities play soccer or building a website that helps kids with language difficulties learn to speak. These are just a couple of projects we’ve worked on, and we rely on student leadership to forge our path forward.

Tackle Real Challenges: Building robots isn’t easy, and that’s exactly why we do it. If you love solving problems and taking on tough challenges, you’ll fit right in. We bring together the best minds from both Valley and Hills to cooperate, experiment, innovate, and adapt. Every problem is an opportunity to learn, grow, and push limits.

Run Cool Events: Love organizing things? We do too! Help us run one of our many community-centric events; or create your own! Our FIRST LEGO League Tournament, Bergen Brickfest, is our largest outreach event with 24 Bergen County teams competing to move on to the FLL State Championship. We rely on student leadership to run the show. Our students actually change lives!

Make a Global Impact: From Haiti to South Africa, our projects reach far beyond our local community. You’ll get the chance to work with students and professionals worldwide, making a difference that stretches across continents.

We Play to Win: Our team doesn’t just compete—we excel. In 2017, we achieved one of our greatest triumphs by winning the World Championship, among over 3,357 teams. This victory isn’t just a trophy; it’s a testament to our hard work, innovation, and the spirit of teamwork that drives everything we do. And with each season, we strive to push the boundaries of what’s possible, aiming to replicate that success and continue making history.

Scholarships and Recognition: Work hard and earn an Academic Varsity Letter, or even one of our Senior Scholarships. We have a long history of celebrating our members’ achievements and turning ideas into reality.

The Pi-oneer Family: With 100% of our members graduating and most heading into STEAM careers, you’ll be joining a network of friends and mentors who’ve got your back—during high school and beyond.


Twenty more reasons to try it out:

  1. Solve Real Problems:  What we do isn’t easy, but the payoff is
  2. Meet Awesome People:  Make new friends who love what you love.
  3. Bring Ideas to Life:  Design, build, and create cool stuff from scratch.
  4. Unleash Your Creativity:  Show off your skills in building, marketing, and more.
  5. Join a Team:  Work together, make memories, and crush goals.
  6. Compete and Win:  Show off your skills in exciting competitions.
  7. Learn New Stuff:  Pick up awesome skills like coding, building, and designing.
  8. Get Real Experience:  Work on real projects that make a difference.
  9. Show Off Your Talents:  Use your unique skills to help the team shine.
  10. Build Your Confidence:  See your ideas in action and feel proud!
  11. Learn from the Best:  Get tips and tricks from experienced mentors.
  12. Discover Your Passion:  Find out what career path excites you.
  13. Master Problem-Solving:  Tackle challenges and learn to think on your feet.
  14. Boost Communication Skills:  Learn to share your ideas clearly and confidently.
  15. Learn to Lead:  Manage projects and take charge like a pro.
  16. Build Your Portfolio:  Create projects you can show off to colleges or jobs.
  17. Get Future-Ready:  Gain skills that will set you up for success.
  18. Try Different Roles:  Find what you love by trying different team jobs.
  19. Be Part of Something Big:  Join a community and achieve big things together.
  20. Make a Difference:  Get involved in the community and inspire others.

FAQs

1. What is the time commitment of an FRC season?

The time commitment varies throughout the FRC season. In the Fall, we focus on Outreach Events, Pi-Tech pre-season training and 2 off-season competitions. Outreach Events include fun STEAM events for children (about 3 hours each), as well as 3 mandatory team events that includes the Car Wash (3.5 hours), hosting the Bergen County FIRST LEGO League Tournament (4 hours), and the STEAM Fair (3.5 hours). Pi Tech training is one night a week for 8 weeks (7pm to 9pm). Off-season competitions are fun to go to, it’s an all day event.
During the Build Season (Jan-Feb), the time commitment increases significantly. Team members are required to attend meetings a minimum of 3 days a week, 3 hours each day. Most members attend at least 4 days. The 8 weeks of Build Season are when our team is at its best, as we focus on designing and building the robot, programming our robot, working on awards and completing other tasks to prepare for competitions. The Competition Season brings 2 events in New Jersey that are each 2 days, the District Championship is 2 overnights, and hopefully the World Championship which is 4 to 5 days away.

2. Can I participate in sports or other clubs at the same time?

Yes, you can participate in other activities while being a member of the robotics team. Fall sports are usually compatible with our schedule. If you are involved in theater as an actor, it will be challenging to manage both due to the time demands of both activities. However, many students have successfully balanced being in the stage crew and robotics. Participating in Spring sports is possible, as long as you attend at least one weekend competition which are in March and April.

3. What if I don’t know how to contribute to the team?

No problem! We are here to teach you. During Pi-Tech (Oct-Dec), we provide training and teach various skills needed for robotics. If it’s your first year, we understand that learning will be a major part of your experience. We encourage you to ask questions, try new things, and take advantage of the resources and mentorship we offer. There is a Job Fair where you have the opportunity to discover the different subdivisions the team offers and learn about what they do. You will choose your subdivision after the Job Fair.

4. What are competitions like?

Competitions are exciting and action-packed events where our team competes against other robotics teams from different schools. These events are filled with high energy, teamwork, and the thrill of seeing our robot in action. Teams dress in their team uniforms, some crazy and fun, but always colorful. There is music, cheering for your team, and even dancing. Because it is a competition, there is some work to do! Members in the stand take turns scouting the other teams, and members in the team pit area talk to judges, work on the robot, and network with other teams. Competitions typically last a few days and include not only the robot matches but also opportunities for outreach and celebrating the achievements of all teams involved. They are a great way to bond with teammates and experience the broader robotics community.

HOW TO JOIN

1) Interest Meeting – Wed. Sep 11

Thanks for your interest in joining the Pi-oneers! We’re excited to invite you to an information session on September 11th, right after school, from 3:15pm to 4:00pm. Check below for the room details. We’ll give an overview of our team and explain the onboarding process. We look forward to seeing you there!

Pascack Hills: Room 104

Pascack Valley: Room 174

2) Interest FormDUE: Mon. Sep 16

Before our first full team meeting, we need a bit more information from you. Please complete this form by Monday, September 16th.

3) Full Team Meeting – Tues. Sep 17

We are excited to kick off the new season and welcome everyone to our first team meeting!

Date: Tuesday, September 17th

Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Location: Pascack Hills Cafeteria

During the meeting, we will cover key topics including:

  • Upcoming fundraising efforts
  • Community outreach initiatives
  • Details about Pi-tech Academy (learn new skills!)
  • Our team culture and values
  • And much more!

4) Team Job Fair – Tues. Sep 24

Date: Tuesday, September 24th

Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Location: Pascack Hills Cafeteria

What is the Team Job Fair?

As a new member, you might be wondering how you can best contribute to our team and which areas align with your interests and skills. That’s where our Team Job Fair comes in! This event is designed to introduce you to all the different roles and activities our team is involved in. Think of it as a showcase of everything our team does—it’s your opportunity to learn about the various aspects of our operations, meet team leaders, and discover where you might want to focus your efforts.

What Can You Expect?

At the Team Job Fair, each team sub-group will set up a station or booth. These stations will cover all the main areas we work in, such as:

  • CAD (Computer-Aided Design): Explore how we digitally design parts and systems before building them.
  • Chassis: Focus on designing, building, and optimizing the base and drive system of the robot, which is crucial for movement and stability.
  • Mechanical Design: Learn about designing and building the robot’s physical components.
  • Programming: Discover how we code the robot to perform tasks and compete.
  • Electrical: Learn how we wire the robot and ensure all components work together.
  • Carpentry: See how we construct the physical elements of our team’s space, build practice fields, and work on parts of the robot that require woodwork.
  • Awards (Writing, Business, Marketing, and Outreach): Help craft compelling narratives and presentations to submit for awards, focusing on our team’s achievements in various areas.
  • Animation: Dive into creating animations for our team’s projects, which can be used for presentations, awards submissions, and more.
  • Graphics: Learn how we design logos, team shirts, banners, and other visual elements that represent our team.
  • Photo & Video Production: Capture our team’s journey through high-quality photos and videos, and create videos event highlights.
  • Publications: Take charge of creating and managing our team’s publications, such as the team scrapbook, business plan, and any brochures or pamphlets.
  • Information-Technology (IT): Learn about managing and maintaining the team’s technical infrastructure, including website, apps, tournament software, and data collection systems. This sub-group is responsible for developing custom software solutions to enhance team operations.

5) Subdivision Choice FormDUE: Mon. Sep 30

Before we can start training you in our Pi-techs, complete this form to choose your subdivision by September 30th.