Youth Robotics Programs in DC, MD, VA - FIRST Rob

“I BELIEVE that these kids are our best hope for a better future.”- a FIRST volunteer

Thank you for being a part of our FIRST community! Like the volunteer quoted above, it’s your belief in the children we serve that enables them to grow and bloom in ways we can’t imagine. When they thrive, we thrive!

Since our last report, FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams, composed of over 7,000 7-12th grade students, have been in the process of registering and preparing for the 2019-2020 season which is already underway. FIRST Chesapeake dba VirginiaFIRST has been working to make this season even better than before.

Here are some highlights:

• Since August FIRST Chesapeake has been holding Town Hall meetings for teams and volunteers in our District to share information, answer any questions that they may have, and hear their thoughts about how we can do better. These have been very fruitful, with increased understanding and a great exchange of ideas.

• FIRST Chesapeake has been scheduling venues and dates for more than 20 workshops and competitions, and working with teams and allied organizations that provide off-season and pre-season scrimmages, matches, and seminars.
  • The FIRST Tech Challenge season begin in September with the reveal of their game SKYSTONE. FTC Workshops Sponsored by ECPI University took place at two locations in Richmond and Northern Virginia, with remote viewing available to teams not able to attend in person.
  • The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) game is not revealed until January, but FIRST Chesapeake is glad to support many team-hosted off-season events taking place this fall. For the first time we will host the FRC workshops in an online format so teams throughout the district can participate regardless of their physical location.

• Upcoming FIRST Chesapeake Scheduled 2019-2020 Events
  • Oct 19- FIRST Chesapeake Town Hall Falls Church (Falls Church, VA)
  • Nov 16- Mentoring and Conflict Resolution Workshop (Richmond, VA)
  • Nov 24- FTC Oakton Qualifier (Flint Hill Upper School- Oakton, VA)
  • Dec 7- FTC Christiansburg Qualifier (Auburn Middle School- Riner, VA)
  • Dec 7- FTC Richmond Qualifier (Deep Run High School- Glen Allen, VA)
  • Dec 14- FTC Newport News Qualifier (Heritage High School- Newport News, VA)
  • Dec 15- FTC Centreville Qualifier (Centreville High School- Clifton, VA)
  • Jan 4, 2020- FRC Kickoff and Game Reveal (worldwide)
  • Jan 4- FTC Charlottesville Qualifier (University of Virginia- Charlottesville, VA)
  • Jan 11- FTC Salem Qualifier (Roanoke College- Salem, VA)
  • Jan 18- FTC Orange Qualifier (Prospect Heights Middle School- Orange, VA)
  • Jan 25- FTC SWVA Grundy Qualifier (Grundy High School- Grundy, VA)
  • Feb 22- FTC Virginia Championship (Atlee High School- Mechanicsville, VA)
  • Feb 28- Mar 1- FRC FIRST Chesapeake District Haymarket VA Event (Battlefield High School- Haymarket, VA)
  • Mar 6-8- FRC FIRST Chesapeake District Richmond VA Event (Arthur Ashe Athletic Center- Richmond, VA)
  • Mar 6-8- FRC FIRST Chesapeake District Bethesda MD Event (Walt Whitman High School- Bethesda, MD)
  • Mar 13-15- FRC FIRST Chesapeake District Owings Mills MD Event (McDonough School- Owings Mills, MD)
  • Mar 13-15- FRC FIRST Chesapeake District Portsmouth VA Event (Churchland High School- Portsmouth, VA)
  • Mar 20-22- FRC FIRST Chesapeake District Edgewater MD Event (South River High School, Edgewater, MD)
  • Mar 20-22- FRC FIRST Chesapeake District Blacksburg VA Event (Blacksburg High School- Blacksburg, VA)
  • Apr 2-5- FRC FIRST Chesapeake District Championship Sponsored by Newport News Shipbuilding (Hampton Coliseum- Hampton, VA)

We are grateful to all the people who volunteered for the 2018-2019 season. THANK YOU to FIRST Chesapeake’s more than 1,250 volunteers who gave more than 35,000 hours!

We are always glad to welcome new volunteers- whether your skills are technical or not, all are needed, and we would love for you to join us for the 2019-2020 season.  A qualifying tournament in the FIRST Robotics Competition or the FIRST Tech Challenge can require up to 100 volunteers each day. The Championships need more than 120 volunteers, both technical and non-technical, per day. For more details go to: https://www.firstchesapeake.org/volunteer

As always, we appreciate the support of individuals and corporations who help us continue to do what we do best - build a strong and engaged community of future technology leaders in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Thank you.

Links:

• FIRST Chesapeake website
• FIRST Chesapeake Volunteer Page
• Follow us on Facebook