Cherokee’s robotics team, Charge Robotics, is an award-winning team that works with volunteer professional engineers to design, build, and market an engineering project as part of the FIRST Robotics Competition. The FIRST Robotics Competition is a world-recognized organization that instills the values of discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork, and fun through competitive play with Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition. The team collaborates to create a robot that can complete specific tasks, such as scoring points or navigating obstacles, to compete at regional and national competitions. Students interested in STEM, CAD design, business, programming, software, marketing, graphics, videography, photography, and strategic gameplay are encouraged to try out. No experience is needed, but students should be highly motivated to learn and work as a part of a team.
Membership opens annually to Cherokee students in September and consists of an application and tryout to set our roster by the end of October. All students interested in joining our team must participate in the tryouts as we have limited spots to fill based on the room capacity and other safety restrictions.
Timeline for Joining
Membership Interest - May - September
Students interested in joining the robotics team at Cherokee High School should complete the Charge Membership Interest Form. Team membership is advertised in our school announcements, hallway posters, Frosh Orientation, and the club fair. Students who complete the interest form are sent the application via email when the application period opens.
Application Period - September
Students must apply to join the team. The application opens in mid-September for approximately two weeks. Students will select a try-out date when completing the team application.
Try Outs - October
Students must attend a try-out meeting to learn about the team, member expectations, and team policies. Students also complete problem-solving tasks with a small group.
New Member Portfolio - October
During the try-out meetings, students will be introduced to the new member portfolio as a part of the application process. Students must complete a portfolio to be considered for team membership.
New Members Join Team - November
New members will be evaluated on their portfolio quality and participation during the try-out meeting, and selections will be made for team and departmental needs. All students will be notified via email of their membership status. Students who make the team will be sent a form to complete to indicate they have accepted their membership. Final rosters will be set by the end of October and new members will join the team at the first meeting in November.
General Team Information
The two documents listed below will tell you a lot about team membership and what you can do with our team. Check them out!
You can also take a look at our calendar to see when our meetings are held at our schools.
FAQ
Q: Do I need to have experience in robotics to make the team?
A: No, you don't.
We are a teaching robotics team which means we train our members in what they need to know to contribute to our team. We ask that students who apply for the team be independent thinkers, problem-solvers, open to learning, and collaborators. Students interested in STEM, CAD design, business, programming, software, marketing, graphics, videography, photography, and strategic gameplay are encouraged to try out.
Q: Can I do other sports and activities and still do robotics?
A: Yes and no.
Team members can play Fall and Spring sports, however, Winter sports conflict with our robot build season. Any sport or activity that requires daily attendance during January and February will prevent you from being a part of the team. We meet daily after school during that time to prepare for competitions in March and April. Meetings are less regular in March and April when we compete so students can do other activities. We ask that students make accommodations to attend competitions on Saturdays and Sundays. These competitions normally occur over three weekends during these months.
See the attendance policies in the team handbook for more detailed information.
Q: How much does it cost to participate in robotics?
A. All team members must pay the LRHSD Activity Fee to participate in robotics. The fee covers many activities, so it is recommended to pay the activity fee at the start of the school year if you plan to do more than just robotics. If you only plan to do robotics, we'd suggest waiting to pay for the activity in case you do not make the team. There are other costs to participate on the team to cover uniform and food expenses. Those costs and purchases are facilitated by our Parent Booster Team.
Q: Why are there a fixed amount of spots on your team?
A: This primarily has to do with shop safety and maintaining a safe working environment with our teachers.
Q: What can I work on as a member of the robotics team?
A: We have a lot of opportunities to do many things related to engineering, business, and marketing on our team. Students interested in STEM, design, business, programming, software, graphics, videography, photography, and strategic gameplay are encouraged to try out. Check out the slide show and team handbook to learn more about specific roles and projects within our team.