Join Us!

MECO Robotics is always recruiting! We are looking for students ages 12 and older who are interested in joining our team. Fields of interest include mechanical design, construction, making presentations, electrical wiring, programming, photography and videography, website design, writing, programming, business planning, CAD, electrical design, soldering, outreach and fundraising, robot driving, social media management, public speaking, and more. NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY! We have mentors who specialize in mechanical and electrical engineering and design, digital design, photography, business, and more who will train you, along with your fellow students. Additionally, there are no dues required to join! We strive to make this team and program available for all students and their families, regardless of your financial situation.

Why should I join a robotics team?

Because it’s insanely cool! Watch this 3.5 minute video for a quick overview of FIRST Robotics Competition. If you have Disney+, check out the FIRST FRC documentary “More Than Robots”, which details 4 teams around the globe as they go through the 2020 FIRST Robotics Competition. Here’s just a few things you can gain from joining an FRC team:

• You’ll gain experience in engineering, design, construction, programming, testing, and competing in a fun, competitive environment
• You’ll have the opportunity to network with mentors and judges from the career fields you may be interested in
• You will work together with a team of amazing students to create a robot, build lifetime friendships, and learn valuable teamwork and cooperation skills
• You’ll be able to gain valuable skills in leadership, public speaking, problem solving, marketing, and more
• You’ll become eligible for up to $80 million in college scholarships offered through the FIRST program
• You’ll be able to gain volunteer hours to assist in both college applications and for Florida Bright Future scholarships
• Share STEM and FIRST with our community through outreaches at schools, Maker Faire, IITSEC, and other STEM events

What is MECO?

MECO (pronounced MEE-koh) Robotics is a small team of middle and high schoolers who work together to design, build, and compete with industrial sized robots. UCF college mentors with significant FIRST experience guide us in making our robots. We were founded by Phil Metzger, a planetary scientist with big dreams for working and traveling in space, which inspired our space theme. MECO stands for Main Engine Cut Off: the moment when a rocket has achieved the first stage of its journey and is now ready to begin its job.

Who can join?

MECO welcomes students aged 12-18 who are in middle or high school. Students should be mature, able to work independently, and willing to learn. No other skills are necessary.

What is the time commitment?

• Most of the year (April-December) we meet 2-3 times a week. 
• During build season (January-March) we meet often during the week: Monday-Thursday evenings, Saturday for most of the day, and sometimes Sunday afternoons. 
• We typically attend two competitions during our season, though this may change year to year:
  • Orlando Regional: Mid-March at UCF
  • Tallahassee Regional: Mid-March at FAMU/FSU College of Engineering
• Besides building robots, we also do outreach to schools, professional organizations, and through community events such as Synapse, Maker Faire, SPARK STEM Fest (formerly known as Otronicon), and UCF STEM Day.

Where do you meet?

We currently meet at Orange County Academy, located at 18409 11th Ave, Orlando, 32833 in Bithlo, Florida (just outside of Christmas).

What is the cost to join MECO?

• There are no fees to join the team. All expenses including team t-shirt, robot supplies, and travel are covered by our fundraising efforts. 
• Students may occasionally need money for lunch or dinner on a long build day or at outreach events.
• MECO pays most of the travel expenses for out-of-town competitions. To qualify for fully-paid accommodations, students must attend at least 10 hours of team meetings each week during build season (January-March).

What should I wear?

• Closed-toed shoes are required at every meeting, and long pants are suggested for robot construction.
• Safety glasses will be provided for all students, and must be worn while in the build space. 
• Student cell phones will be put away during meetings, with a few exceptions.
• All clothing should be respectful and not divisive or inappropriate.

I’m not a student… can I still get involved?

Our kids are amazing, but we would not be able to function without our dedicated and hard-working parents and mentors. Opportunities to help are endless. If you don’t see anything here that strikes your fancy, talk to Nikki or Becky! There’s something for everyone to do and have the opportunity to help out.

• Skills (construction, engineering, electrical, inventory management, website design, public relations, grant writing, photography, videography, sponsor recognition, and more)
• Connections (mentors, potential sponsors, companies who can provide in-kind donations)
• Recruitment of team members
• Fundraising

What is FIRST?

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global non-profit organization that prepares young people aged 4-18 for the future in science and technology by giving them the opportunity to participate in competitive robotics. It fosters teamwork, mentoring, gracious professionalism, and coopertition among teams. 

Gracious professionalism is the notion that fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate ideas. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. 

Coopertition is displaying unqualified kindness and respect in the face of fierce competition. Coopertition means that we might help another team fix their robot and then compete with them in the next round. We work together in order to help each other succeed.

What is FIRST Robotics Competition?

We compete in FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition), the high school level program offered by FIRST. First Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. High-school student participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have.” 

Under strict rules along with limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get in a fun, competitive environment. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship, where the teams are able to compete against other local and travel teams to demonstrate their robots they’ve worked hard to design, build, and code. The top 3 teams, or winning alliance, from each regional or state competition advance to Worlds, which is typically held in Houston or Detroit. Teams have other ways they can qualify for Worlds, too, such as the Impact Award.

What is OCA?

Orange County Academy (OCA) is the school we are affiliated with and which provides our build space, storage, and practice area. The address is 18415 11th Ave, Orlando, 32833 in Bithlo, Florida.United Global Outreach

(UGO) is our non-profit umbrella, providing our bank account, background checks for leaders, and insurance. UGO strives to positively transform neglected communities like Bithlo in east Orlando into communities we would all want to live in. They started in Bithlo in 2010 by opening Orange County Academy.

Contact Us!

Ok, I’m ready! Where do I sign up?

Contact us via the phone number or email above and we’ll get you the information and materials you need to join. We can’t wait to have you join our crew!