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What is FIRST?

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FIRST is a progression of robotics competitions for kids, beginning with the youngest innovators and going through high school.  Each level of FIRST features age appropriate challenges and engages students in a "sport for the mind". FIRST encourages it participants to think outside the box.  Even at the earliest levels when students are limited to the use of LEGO pieces, students are encouraged to solve problems in ways that are innovative. At the FTC and FRC levels, there is no box.  

Each season starts fresh with a new theme and a new game, and students design and build robots to compete in high energy, high fun competitions. Innovation, hard work, team work, and cooperation with competitors (coopertition®) are celebrated at these events.

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FIRST is Robots, but it's also so much more.

“FIRST is more than robots. The robots are a vehicle for students to learn important life skills.

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Kids often come in not knowing what to expect – of the program nor of themselves. They leave, even after the first season, with a vision, with confidence and with a sense that they can create their own future.”

– FOUNDER, DEAN KAMEN

FIRST LEGO 
League

FIRST LEGO LEAGUE introduces STEM to children ages 4-14 through fun, exciting, hands-on learning.

Participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program, helping today's students and teachers build a better future together.FIRST LEGO League's three divisions inspire youth to experiement and grow their critical thinking, coding, and design skills through hands-on STEM learning and robotics.



 

FIRST TECH
Challenge

FIRST Tech Challenge students learn to think like engineers.

Teams design, build, and program robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by android technology, and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programs.

Participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences as they begin the season with only ideas and finish the season with a working robot and an Engineering portfolio that documents their journey.


 

FIRST Robotics Competition

FIRST Robotics Competition teams design, program and build a robot with a standard kit of parts and common set of rules to play in a themed head -to-head challenge.

Students must work together in a large team to solve problems, collaborate and bring their ideas to life. Teams also build a brand, develop community partnerships for support, and work to promote STEM in their local community.