Parent Participation

We are so appreciative of our incredible families who contribute their time and expertise to support The Body Electric! We have an active fundraising team, are growing our marketing communications efforts and are always looking for new technical Mentors. If you are interested in participating with one of those efforts, email frc1389@gmail.com.

Critically, our Build and Competition Season (Jan through April) is a huge undertaking that requires support from all of our families to run smoothly. We look for support in several ways:

Lab Shift Volunteers

The lab cannot be open without two adults present, therefore all parents are needed to help with lab shifts during Build Season. The more we have participate, the less work it is for everyone.

Lab shifts are Mon through Fri and are each 2 hours long. An online sign-up sheet for lab shifts will be sent out on December 1st.

All parent volunteers must complete an online training program from Montgomery County Schools. PLEASE complete required training. This takes about an hour. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/childabuseandneglect/.

Additionally, one adult present at each lab shift must have completed background screening/fingerprinting with MCPS. We greatly appreciate anyone who takes this additonal step as it helps relieve some of the burden from our Mentors. More information on the MCPS background screening and fingerprinting process can be found here.

Lab shift guidelines can be found here.

Dinners

We feed team members nightly from Monday through Thursday during Build Season. The team is hard at work during that time and greatly appreciates the meals that are provided.

The online sign-up that is sent out for lab shift volunteers in December will also have spots to sign up for dinners.

Dinner can be purchased or home cooked.
Volunteers who sign up to deliver dinner should plan to arrive around 6 - 6:30.
Please plan to feed approximately 20-25 team members (including students and mentors).
Please provide a vegetarian option.
Please provide forks (or whatever is needed) and paper products.
Drinks are always appreciated by the team..

The team will set up a table in the hallway outside the lab for dinner to be set up on. If it is not set up before you arrive, you can ask the team members to get it.

Driving To & From Competitions

We rely on parents to transport team members to and from our competitions. This is due to: 1) the high cost of renting transportation over multiple days to convey 50+ team members; and 2) our insurance does not permit students to drive themselves to team events. We will recruit drivers as Competition Season approaches and we greatly appreciate any time that can be given.

Event Volunteers

During the seasons that we host a competition (which raises thousands of dollars for the team through concessions), we rely on our families to fill a myriad of volunteer roles from selling concessions to crowd control.