Community Outreach

FLL State Tournament: Every year, the Mount Olive Robotics Team hosts the New Jersey FLL State tournament at Mount Olive High School. It allows the team to teach people around the state about MORT, robotics and FIRST. Many children and adults attend this tournament and become excited about robotics, science and technology as they walk around and learn about the different robots, teams and designs. Because so many alike innovators are at the same venue, children’s interests are piqued as learn more about these fascinating topics, allowing the influence of FIRST to be spread around the state.

Adopt-a-Spot Roadside Cleanup: For quite some time, MORT has taken part in the Adopt-a-spot Roadside Cleanup by adopting a spot near Branda’s Italian Grill in Budd Lake, NJ. Every year in the fall, team members go to the cleanup location and thoroughly clean the entire area, picking up trash and debris to help the community and the environment.

MORT Food and Coat Drives: In 2010, MORT began a Food and Coat Drive to gather donations for the Mount Olive Food Pantry, a local food pantry that helps feed many local families during the year. To raise donations, the team decided to send out requests for items to all FLL teams participating in the state tournament, and as an incentive it was made into a competition so that the teams that brought the most goods would win prizes. The effort was a great success and the team was able to donate food, coats, and jackets to help the needy during these tough times.

Elementary School Summer NXT Lego Camps: Each year, MORT holds two one-week sessions over the summer that teach kids, ages 7 to 12, to build their own NXT robot to complete the previous year’s FLL challenge. Participants design, build, and program their robots to complete these challenges with the help of volunteer MORT team members.

Elementary School & Scouting Presentations: MORT gives presentations to local community groups such as scouting organizations and elementary school children to provide an opportunity to experience MORT in a hands on robotics demonstration.

Annual MORT Roll-Out Event: Each year, MORT gives a presentation to the parents and local community members about how the team works and the team’s accomplishments. MORT finishes the presentation with the unveiling of our final robot for that FRC season.

Mentoring local FRC & FLL Teams: MORT promotes FIRST in the New Jersey area by sponsoring a rookie FRC team every build season. The team has mentored many teams since our rookie year in 1997. If any rookie teams are looking for MORT to mentor them, we would be happy to oblige.

Organization of the FIRST Night Out with the Somerset Patriots Minor League Baseball Team: MORT has organized an event for local FRC teams to watch baseball and communicate with other FRC students and mentors. Teams get the opportunity to learn more about their companions in the FIRST community.

MORT Toys for Tots Drive Drop-Off location: During the FLL State Tournament 2010, we acted as a drop off location for FLL teams participating in the drive.

Mt. Olive Memorial Day Parade participant: MORT’s hometown, Mount Olive, hosts a Memorial Day Parade every year which MORT is always proud to be a participant in. The team brings students and the previous season’s robot to march in the parade with the rest of our community.

Mt. Olive Community Carnival participant: At the Mount Olive Carnival, MORT hosts an information stand about FIRST and our team. The team hands out information to any passerby that is interested in science and technology, spreading the word about FIRST and MORT in our community.