Join us

MECO Robotics is recruiting! We need students ages 12 and up who are interested in working on a successful robotics team. Jobs might include website design, writing, mechanical design, construction, making presentations, electrical wiring, photography, programming, business planning, and robot driving. NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY! We will train you, and there are no dues required to join.

Why should I join a robotics team?

Because it’s incredibly cool, of course! Watch this 3.5 minute video for a quick overview of FIRST FRC, or if you have Disney+, watch the FIRST FRC documentary “More Than Robots”. If you’re still not convinced, take a look at the opportunities you’ll get as a member of our team: 

• Gain engineering experience: design, construction, programming, testing, and competing
• Network with mentors and judges from the fields you are interested in
• Work within a team to create a robot, build lifetime friendships, and learn cooperation
• Gain valuable skills in leadership, public speaking, problem solving, marketing, and many others
• Be eligible for up to $80 million in college scholarships
• Accrue volunteer hours to assist in college applications and for Bright Futures scholarships.
• Share your love of STEM with the community through events (Maker Faire, Synapse, Otronicon) and in local schools

What is MECO?

MECO (pronounced MEE-koh) Robotics is a close-knit 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. Occasionally a very mature, slightly younger student will be invited to join. 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, sometimes in person and sometimes on Zoom.
• During build season (January-March) we meet almost every day: Monday-Thursday evenings, Saturday most of the day, and some Sunday afternoons. 
• We attend at least one competition per year, in Orlando in early March. Sometimes we will attend another two or three competitions elsewhere in Florida or even out of state. These could be scheduled anytime in March or April. Competitions are usually Thursday-Saturdays.
• There are also off-season weekend competitions we attend in Viera (August) and Tampa (October); these can be one or two days long.
• Besides building robots, we also do outreach to schools, professional organizations, and through community events such as Synapse (October), Maker Faire (November), Otronicon (February), and UCF STEM Day (April), which are typically on weekends. 

Where do you meet?

Orange County Academy: 18409 11th Ave, Orlando, 32833 

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 travel expenses for out-of-town competitions. To qualify for fully-paid accommodations, students must attend at least 10 hours of team meetings per week during build season (Jan-Feb).

What should I wear?

• Closed-toed shoes are required at every meeting, and long pants are highly suggested during robot construction. 
• Safety glasses will be provided and must be worn while working on the robot. 
• Student cell phones will be put aside during meetings with a few exceptions.
• All clothing should be respectful and not divisive.

What can my parents do to help?

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 Botwinik, our lead mentor and Program Manager!

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

What is FIRST?

FIRST (which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a worldwide non-profit organization that prepares young people aged 4-18 for the future in science and technology. 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. 

What is FRC?

We compete in FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition), the high school level program offered by FIRST. FRC 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 and 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. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship.

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.

What are the different ways to contact MECO?

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 look forward to meeting you!