Run & Hosted by FRC 1334
Robots @ CNE
Canadian National Exhibition Gaming Garage
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Robots @ CNE Activities
CNE Gaming Garage | Enercare Centre, Hall D
Learn To Drive
Dates
August 16 - August 28
Hours
10 AM - 6 PM
FRC Competition
Dates
10 AM - 8 PM
Hours
August 30 - September 1
Learn To Drive
August 16 to August 28
10 AM - 6 PM
Learn to Drive teaches guests of the CNE of all ages how to drive FIRST robots on the 2024 FRC field.
As an official attraction of the 2024 CNE Gaming Garage, Learn to Drive exposes thousands of guests to FIRST through hands-on activities.
Learn to Drive FAQs
Individual Volunteers
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Yes! All volunteers receive a free admission ticket to the grounds for each day they volunteer.
You will receive communication from the Volunteer Coordinator about how to pick up your ticket on the day that you volunteer.
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“Shifts” are divided into two 4-hour shifts per day.
10 AM - 2 PM and 2 PM - 6 PM
If you are volunteering with a team, at least two team members should be present at the learn-to-drive area at all times.
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Anyone can volunteer!
We require you to be comfortable learning to drive a robot or talking to the general public about FIRST.
Since starting this program in 2017, our team has had the following volunteers:
FRC, FTC & FLL members
Alumni, Mentors, Sponsors
Friends & family members
Siblings (mature enough to volunteer)
Parents, grandparents, etc.
If you’d like to visit with family or friends who do not fit the criteria above, they’re welcome to purchase admission tickets to the CNE for the day and meet with you after your shift!
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We recommend you bring:
A lunch, or money for food
Refillable water bottle
Close-toed shoes for working on the field
Any team or volunteer swag you typically wear at competitions
Please keep all personal belongings with you at all times.
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All CNE volunteers have to complete an annual waiver signed by a parent or guardian if they are under 18.
The volunteer coordinator, Kate Walsh will send this to you to complete in advance when you sign up.
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Please bring any paperwork, or contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Kate Walsh, to sign off on your volunteer hours.
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The CNE has limited paid parking available. If volunteering in the morning, we recommend using the Enercare Centre’s underground parking.
Our team has found it more cost-effective to keep cars in a carpool parking lot on the Lakeshore West Go train or TTC lines and to walk, train, or TTC to the Ex.
Bringing a Robot
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Great!
Please complete the sign-up form, and our planning committee will contact you.
1334 and the CNE are happy to provide attribution and recognition to any ideas or initiatives you’d like to start.
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An adult representative from 1334 is onsite daily to coordinate tickets, scheduling, and any questions about the event flow.
The CNE expects all volunteers to be respectful and on task, but 1334 is happy to support general supervision and safety if needed.
We are not responsible for your team’s robot maintenance or equipment and expect a responsible team leader or adult to coordinate.
Please communicate any needs or concerns with the volunteer coordinator, Kate Walsh, via the signup form.
As needed, we’re happy to help with:
General onsite supervision
Getting your robot or tools into the event
Picking up tools or your robot before/after the event.
Please Note: We are unable to supervise young children or siblings.
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We recommend you set your top drive speed to 10-25% of your typical competition setting.
Prepare a “controls” cheat sheet so that you have an easy reference for the public to follow.
If you’d like, disable or remove elements you may worry about wear and tear, such as climbers or intake mechanisms.
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Please bring anything you need to run your robot on the field and any specialized maintenance or programming.
Driver station, programming laptops
Bumpers
Spare hardware
Batteries
Battery charger
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Banners are welcome, but optional if you’re tight on space.
We recommend banners, posters, or other recognizable elements to hand out or display.
Due to venue policy - Please no stickers.
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We have tools and driver stations for typical maintenance, as well as backup batteries and robots if yours breaks down.
Our team is happy to assist with reasonable repairs as long as 1-2 members remain on the field with a working robot or human player game to engage with the public.
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Yes! 5x10’ spaces with power a table, and some chairs are available to teams for robot maintenance and tools at the field.
Please note that this is a rotating space for all teams volunteering at this outreach event.
Your team is welcome to stay set up if you are volunteering multiple shifts in a row, but we ask that you keep the area tidy.
Individual belongings should stay with team members.
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We’re happy to discuss with your team about storage options so you don’t need to take your robot back and forth, especially if your team is present for multiple 1/2 day shifts.
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We’ll reach out to you and individually coordinate!
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There is not available trailer parking on the CNE grounds.
We recommend you pack light, especially if your team is only available for 1/2 to 1 1/2 days.
Several parking lots area in the surrounding area are available at your own risk.
FRC Off-Season Event
August 30 to September 1
10 AM - 8 PM
Robots@CNE is an off-season FIRST Robotics Competition hosted in the heart of Canada’s largest annual fair.
Up to 30 robots will play the 2024 FRC game in CNE’s Gaming Garage.
Registration Details
Team registration covers entry into the CNE, at the corporate ticket price of $22.12 per entry ticket. Teams may purchase up to 30 tickets through this portal.
Teams do not require entry tickets for load-in/crew purposes.
Event Info
Team List
Team GUide
Pit Layout
Event Waiver
Volunteer Event Info
Volunteers FAQ
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Volunteer registration for 2024 is closed.
We've seen an incredible increase in volunteer applications this season, and assigned volunteers on a first come, first served basis based.
If you applied as a volunteer and are still interested in trialing a role for an hour or so, you're welcome to connect with Kate Walsh.
Please note: While we'd love for you to attend the event on behalf of teams, or as a spectator, only officially assigned volunteers are provided with entry tickets and meal voucher to this event.
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Volunteers are expected to bring:
Refillable water bottle
Close-toed shoes for working on the field
Safety glasses
Please keep all personal belongings with you at all times.
You will be provided with a volunteer t-shirt to keep, which should be worn during your assigned volunteer times.
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All volunteers will recieve instructions on how to access their tickets in early August. Please reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator, Kate Walsh, with any additional questions.
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Yes! All assigned volunteers receive a free admission ticket to the grounds for each day they volunteer.
You will receive communication from the Volunteer Coordinator about how to pick up your ticket on the day that you volunteer.
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Volunteers will receive $15 worth of food vouchers for each meal during their assigned volunteer role (lunch and dinner).
Food vouchers are accepted by vendors on the CNE grounds.
Volunteers must check in with the volunteer coordinator before each meal to receive their vouchers.
You're welcome to bring your own snacks, drinks, or meals!
Please note: setup and teardown volunteers do not receive meal vouchers, are reminded to make their own meal plans.
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Volunteers are expected to check in by 10:15 each morning, unless otherwise communicated by the volunteer coordinator.
Volunteers are free to explore the event during breaks, and should expect to be available during all times that the competition is running.
Check the event schedule for more details.
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Please contact the volunteer coordinator, Kate Walsh, for any role swap requests or requests to shadow a new role.
We cannot guarantee all requests will be able to be made.
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No worries; please reach out to the volunteer coordinator, Kate Walsh, as soon as possible to provide notice of your scheduling change so we can re-allocate your tickets and meal vouchers to an available volunteer.
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All CNE volunteers have to complete an annual waiver signed by a parent or guardian if they are under 18.
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Please bring any paperwork, or contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Kate Walsh, to sign off on your volunteer hours.
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The CNE has limited paid parking available. If volunteering in the morning, we recommend using the Enercare Centre’s underground parking.
Our team has found it more cost-effective to keep cars in a carpool parking lot on the Lakeshore West Go train or TTC lines and to walk, train, or TTC to the Ex.
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