Projects
The Pascack Pi-oneers are unlocking the door of potential, creating a path for future innovators, thinkers, doers, and achievers. We are changing the future, one child at a time. Select a category from the menu below to be shown all current and previous projects relating to that category.
Current Projects:
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Arts in STEAMThe evolution of science and technology to include the arts expands the potential of FIRST teams to embrace the abilities of all team members. Team 1676, similar to FIRST, is geared towards including and inspiring members to become the next generation of innovators. |
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FLL TournamentEach year, the Pi-oneers host and run the FLL Bergen Brick Fest Qualifying Tournament at Pascack Hills High School, with more than 160 teams benefitting from the tournament. Through the help of team members and FIRST volunteers, the event continues to prosper and be a successful, inspiring day.. |
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FRC PlaymakerFRC PlayMaker, originally a request from Chief Delphi, is a strategic web application that displays a graphic of the FRC game field. Users may draw on the field diagram and add "robot" placeholders to aid in developing match strategies. |
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FRC OutreachThe Pi-oneers established and mentor Team 6203, Titanium Knights Robotics and 4653, the Don Bosco Ironmen. In 2016, Team 1676 started a new FRC team in Clarkstown NY, Team 6401... |
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FIRST Signing DayThe Pi-oneers were proud to participate in the first annual FIRST Signing Day, created by FRC Team 2468 Team Appreciate, in May 2016. A ceremony was held to honor the graduating class as they signed their Letter of Intent to the colleges they are attending, acknowledging their hard work and dedication to the team... |
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Mentoring FLL TeamsThe Pascack Pi-oneers mentor several FLL Teams, including Montvale, WCL, River Vale, Hillsdale 1, 2, and 3, & Park, alongside aiding them in finding research sources, organizing their team, and building their robots. |
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Scouting DatabaseThe team has continued to assist other FRC teams by making their scouting system and data publicly available. The Pi-oneers establish a local internet-scouting database during every competition they attend, inviting all teams to view and analyze data that has been compiled by team members. |
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South AfricaThe Pi-oneers are collaborating with the Sakhikamva Foundation of South Africa, a non-profit organization that creates a STEM pipeline for students, to create FTC teams in South Africa. |
Past Projects:
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Advocacy for New Jersey Mentor Based STEAM Programs (MBSP)The Pi-oneers were inspired by Team Rush's establishment of NAC and decided to bring the program back to New Jersey where the Advocacy for New Jersey Mentor-Based STEAM Programs was established. |
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National Advocacy Conference (NAC)In June, team representatives attended the FIRST National Advocacy Conference (NAC) hosted by FRC Team 27, RUSH, in Washington, D.C.. |
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Pi-PartnersThe Pi-oneers created Pi-Partners, a program that provides an opportunity for the team to donate money and materials to underfunded or developing teams. |
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Varsity BillOur team continuously strives to ignite the sparks of STEAM to others in the FIRST community. After reaching Academic Varsity Letter Status in December of 2014, we assisted other teams to do the same. |
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Varsity StatusIn 2015, the Pi-oneers achieved their long-awaited goal of obtaining Academic Varsity status. With the help of RC Teams 11 MORT, 303 the Test Team, and 3142 Aperture, they created a set of criteria for Varsity students. |
Current Projects:
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CharitiesEach year the Pi-oneers coordinate a food drive and volunteer to distribute and organize collected items for the Helping Hand Food Pantry. This year the Pi-oneers partnered with the school's "Interact Club" and donated over 500 pounds of food to local food pantries. The robot "walks" side-by-side with Pi-oneers at the annual Pascack Valley "Relay for Life" event. |
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Family Coding DayWhen we originally introduced coding & Hour of Code at our LEGOs & a Movie events last year, we noticed the increase in interest with our participants and their families. This inspired an entire event dedicated to coding, in which young computer programmers work with their families to conquer coding challenges and create games through the Hour of Code website and resources. |
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LEGOs & a MovieIn 2012, Team 1676 created a way to raise money and promote STEAM and FIRST with the "LEGOs & a Movie" fundraiser. Children in Kindergarten through 6th Grade are invited to build with LEGOs, meet Pi-oneers, and watch a STEAM-themed movie. While acting as a fundraiser for the team, the primary objectives of LEGOs & a Movie are to develop children's creativity and building skills, and to interest them and their families early on. |
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LEGOs & a StoryThe team's popular LEGOs & a Movie event was modified through brainstorming to become LEGOs & a Story! In November 2020 the Pi-oneers held the first LEGOs & a Story event virtually. Participants assembled a LEGO creation at home. With assistance from team members, the children used their imagination to write a story about their creation. |
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Ready, Set, Speak!Ready, Set, Speak! is a website that uses verbal imitation (with a mirror feature) to assist children on the autism spectrum in speaking and comprehending language. The website displays videos of team members pronouncing basic words and a mirror function so the user can imitate the mouth movements. |
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School ParticipationOn Pi-Day, March 14, school staff and STEAM teachers wear Pi-oneer t-shirts to celebrate the team and their accomplishments. The team safety program has partnered with the theatre departments at both high schools to improve procedures during set building sessions and backstage activities. |
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Tomorrow Children's InstituteTo inspire the next generation of STEAM heroes, the books began to be sent internationally. During their first two visits to the Tomorrow Children's Institute at the Hackensack University Medical Center, the Pi-oneers demonstrated the robot and read their children's book, Lily the Learner. At the first visit, the Pi-oneers met a young girl named Victoria who had a passion for robots. |
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West Virginia University OutreachIn 2012, a professor of recreational studies at West Virginia University contacted the team about building a robot to provide a way for those with disabilities to participate in Adaptive Physical Education (APE). |
Past Projects:
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Library STEAM ProgramsThe Pi-oneers introduce children to STEAM subjects and FIRST through outreach in the community. Inspiring the next generation of thinkers, doers and achievers is a long-term goal for Team 1676. They host STEAM programs for children at local libraries and for Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops in the community. These programs include readings of Lily the Learner, fun science experiments, and LEGO build sessions to further foster the children's budding interests in FIRST and STEAM. |
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Lily the LearnerIn 2013, the team wrote and illustrated a children's book titled Lily the Learner, which tells the story of a young girl who learns about women in STEAM careers. The team has published Lily the Learner and it is now being sold on the Google Play Store. They have translated the book into nine foreign languages: Spanish, French, Mandarin, Italian, Farsi, German, Japanese, Greek and Russian. They plan to add a Hebrew version soon. |
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Lily's WorkshopA team trip to the Tomorrow Children's Institute at the Hackensack University Medical Center was inspiring to the Pi-oneers. They visited with the patients, read their trilogy Lily the Learner, donated LEGOs, and demonstrated their robot. |
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State FairTeam 1676 partnered with Team 3142 at the NJ State Fair to demonstrate robots and meet with Congressman Garrett and also to promote Academic Varsity letter status for teams in FIRST." |
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STEM HeroesTo help raise awareness for National Robotics Work, the Pi-oneers created a STEM display for both school libraries as well as an exhibit at the Hillsdale Library. |
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STEM Night OutThe Pascack Pi-oneers constantly look for new methods to spread awareness of the message of FIRST and STEAM. In 2019 they created STEM Night Out, an event where they taught children... |
Current Projects:
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Generate My Project ScheduleThe team developed this app as a tool to help students with learning disabilities, as well as those who simply need assistance with time management. |
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Pi-Tech AcademyPi-Tech Academy is used to train rookies and reinforce the skills of veterans. Pi-Tech is a 7-session academy that focuses skills necessary for each Sub-Division. The sessions are taught by talented student leaders. |
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Pi-ParentsThe Pascack Pi-oneer Parents Association (Pi-Parents) contributes to the team by organizing dinners during the Build Season, coordinating carpooling, selling team spirit wear, organizing the Team Picnic, and keeping friends & family informed about team activities. |
Current Projects:
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Sponsor Appreciation NightTeam 1676 annually hosts Sponsor Appreciation Night, where they honor the generous businesses and individuals who have supported the team throughout the season. |
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Sponsor Visits |