2025 Volunteer Info

Hi! This is Devyn and Nathan, your Chicago Robotics Invitational event co-directors! Thank you so much for signing up to volunteer at CRI! The event started in 2018 and we could not keep it running this long without all of you. Our amazing volunteers are what has enabled us to keep this event running and grow it from 20 teams originally to 38 teams now hailing from all over the world! A special thank you to the members of our planning committee who have put in a lot of hours prior to CRI to make it so amazing!

Below you will find information regarding:

  • The time to arrive & position specific meetings
  • Tips for the day, Parking, Food

Volunteer Arrival Times
Note: If you would like to arrive earlier than the posted time, please feel free to do so! This is just the time we would like you in the venue by. If you won’t be able to make it by the posted time, please let us know asap at [email protected]

Volunteer Role
If you don’t see your role or have additional questions, please let us know
Saturday, July 19thSunday, July 20th
Check-In
Event Director
6:30 AM6:30 AM
Lead Queuer
Lead Robot Inspector (LRI)
FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA)
Wi-Fi Technical Advisor (WTA)
Judge Advisor (JA)
Production Manager
6:55 AM6:55 AM
Head Referee
Game Announcer (GA)
Emcee
Analysis Desk Host
Field Manager
9:00 AM6:55 AM
Practice Field Attendant7:15 AM7:15 AM
Scorekeeper
Video Crew
10:00 AM7:30 AM
Referee9:30 AM7:30 AM
Inspector
Control Systems Advisor
7:00 AM7:45 AM
Judge7:00 AM8:00 AM
Photographer8:00 AM8:00 AM
Queuer7:00 AM7:45 AM
Field Resetter10:00 AM7:45 AM

Event Volunteer Meetings:

SaturdaySundayWhat’s Happening?Info
6:30 AM6:30 AMDoors Open for VolunteersFood will be available in the volunteer lounge
7:00 AM & 6:00 PM7:00 AMKey Volunteers MeetingLocation: Volunteer Lounge (Library)
Who: JA, LRI, FTA, Lead Queuer (Saturday morning), all Key Vols (other two)
7:10 AM8:00 AMJudges MeetingLocation: Judges Room (Room 282)
Who: JA, Judges
7:45 AMN/AInspectors HuddleLocation: Playing Field
Who: FTA / Field Inspectors, LRI, Robot Inspectors
9:30 AM & 6:00 PM7:30 AMReferee MeetingLocation: Playing Field
Who: All Referees
10:30 AM7:30 AMShow MeetingLocation: Playing Field
Who: A/V Crew, GA, Emcee
11:00 AM7:45 AMField MeetingLocation: Playing Field
Who: Head Ref, Field Manager, FTA, WTA, Scorekeeper, Field Reset
7:30 AM7:45 AMQueuers MeetingLocation: Volunteer Lounge
Who: Lead Queuer, Queuers

What to Bring / Wear?

  • Yourself & excitement for an awesome and fun filled day!
  • Water Bottle
  • Comfortable closed-toed shoes, most positions will be on their feet throughout the day and walking around
  • Light sweatshirt in case you get cold
  • We will be providing volunteer shirts for everyone to wear and polos for judges


Set Up:
Set-up will primarily start at Noonish on Friday, if you would like to join us earlier, you are more than welcome to, please just give us a heads up. The primary part of set-up will continue until 5ish, when teams are allowed in the venue, but aspects of setting up the competition field area will continue until 8pm when the venue closes for the day.

Food:
On Friday, we will have pizza for volunteers joining us for set up.
Saturday / Sunday Breakfast: Breakfast sandwiches, bagels, parfait bar, fruit, muffins, assorted pastries
Saturday Lunch: Fajita Bar
Sunday Lunch: Portillo’s (a Chicago favorite) consisting of Pasta, Italian Beef, Hotdogs (both beef & plant based) and Chocolate Cake

All Day Snacks & Drinks (Water, Soda, Hot/iced Coffee) will be provided!

Volunteer Social:
We will be having a volunteer social at The Bad Apple (Lincoln Park) This is NOT our usual location.

658 W. Belden (a 3 block walk from the venue)
The reservation is under Nathan Satterfield and is set for 6:30, but early arrival is okay.

We have reserved the room at the back for all of us. Note: The event is not covering meals or drinks, you are responsible for your own orders. We hope you can join us for a good time after a long day with good food, drinks and company!

Parking & Arrival

Address:
 
Francis W. Parker School
330 W. Webster
Chicago, IL 60614
The entrance is on clark street between Clark/Webster & Clark/Belden

For those driving, the volunteer parking lot can be a little hard to find. The entrance to the lot is through the alley on Belden Street (just North of the school’s entrance). The alley is on the South side of the street directly across from the “LPP” Preschool. The approximate address for the alley is 316 W. Belden. Go all of the way straight down the alley UNTIL IT DEAD ENDS and turn left into the lot. You will then have to walk around the block to enter the school from the clark street main entrance. You may park in the lot off of Webster, but space will be limited. IMPORTANT: If you are parking in our lots, you need to put a piece of paper with your name / phone # in your windshield