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

Gearing Up for Another Season of Impact

By Alex Bryant | President

This fall marks the start of the 2025–2026 FIRST® season, themed FIRST AGE of Innovation—and our community is already off to an inspiring start.

Across DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, we’ve launched the year with:

• 7 FTC Kickoff events across the region

• 4 FRC Off-Season competitions

Special outreach moments like: 

Orioles FIRST Pitch at Camden Yards – FIRST teams wowed more than 40,000 fans when a student-built robot delivered the ceremonial first pitch, showcasing youth innovation on a professional sports stage.

Howard University’s AI & Robotics Festival – FIRST Chesapeake students demonstrated robots and engaged in workshops with over 200 high school students and collegiate students, connecting hands-on STEM with higher education opportunities at an HBCU.

Joint Base Andrews Air Show – Our teams shared robotics with an audience of over 200,000 attendees across two days, inspiring military families and the public with demonstrations of engineering, coding, and teamwork.

ImmerseCon – At this regional innovation and tech conference, students presented robotics projects to hundreds of attendees, including industry leaders and entrepreneurs, positioning FIRST youth as part of the future workforce.

Looking Ahead: A Season of Growth

We are gearing up for:

• 18 FTC Qualifiers culminating in a 96-team Championship in Doswell, VA (one of the largest in the world!)
  
  
• 7 FRC District events leading to our District Championship at Virginia State University, our STEM Hub partner
  
  
• The launch of our expanded Women in STEM program this October, amplifying the voices and leadership of girls and young women in robotics

Building Access, Skills, and Futures

At every event, students learn engineering, coding, and problem-solving—but also vital workforce skills like public speaking, marketing, and project management. With over 10,000 participants expected this season, FIRST Chesapeake remains committed to ensuring access for all students, especially in communities where STEM opportunities are limited.

Thank you for making this possible. Every gift helps us create more teams, train more mentors, and host more events that inspire students to discover their potential. Together, we’re not just building robots—we’re building the future.

With gratitude,
Alex Bryant
President, FIRST Chesapeake

Links:

• Visit our website to donate, volunteer, and learn more!