FIRST® Family of Programs


What’s FIRST?

For students aged 6-18, it’s the hardest fun you’ll ever have. For team mentors, coaches, and volunteers, it’s the most rewarding adventure you’ll ever undertake. For sponsors, it’s the most enlightened investment you could ever make. FIRST is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization devoted to helping young people discover and develop a passion for science, engineering, technology, and math. Founded over 20 years ago by inventor Dean Kamen, the 2009-2010 FIRST season attracted more than 210,000 youth and more than 90,000 mentors, coaches, and volunteers from 56 countries. The annual programs culminate in an international robotics competition and celebration where teams win recognition, gain self confidence, develop people and life skills, make new friends, and perhaps discover an unforeseen career path.   

FIRST Family of Programs

Learn more about Jr.FLL      FIRST introduces younger children to the exciting world of science and technology. This program features a real-world challenge to be solved by research, critical thinking, construction, teamwork, and imagination. Guided by adult coaches, teams use LEGO® bricks to build a model with a motorized part and develop a coordinating poster to illustrate their journey. 

Grades K-3 (ages 6-9) get to:
  • Design and build a challenge-related model using LEGO components.
  • Create a Show-Me poster and practice presentation skills.
  • Explore challenges facing today’s scientists.
  • Discover real-world math and science.
  • Begin developing employment and life skills.
  • Choose to participate in events and celebrations.
  • Engage in team activities guided by FLL Core Values.

Read more about Jr.FLL or contact jrfllteams@usfirst.org
     
Learn more about FLL   Children are immersed in real-world science and technology challenges. Teams build LEGO-based robots and develop research projects. Through their participation, children develop valuable life skills and discover exciting career possibilities while learning that they can make a positive contribution to society.

Grades 4-8 (ages 9-16; 9-14 in the U.S. and Canada) get to:
  • Strategize, design, build, program, and test a robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technology.
  • Create innovative solutions for challenges facing today’s scientists as part of their research project.
  • Apply real-world math and science concepts.
  • Develop employment and life skills including critical thinking, time management, collaboration, and communication while becoming more self confident.
  • Become involved in their local and global community.
  • Choose to participate in official tournaments and local events.
  • Qualify for an invitation to World Festival.
  • Engage in team activities guided by FLL Core Values.

Read more about FLL or contact fllteams@usfirst.org
     
Learn more about FTC   More geographically accessible, FTC is designed for those who want to compete head-to-head using a sports model. Teams of up to 10 students are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors, and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments. 

Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18) get to: 
  • Design, build, and program robots.
  • Apply real-world math and science concepts.
  • Develop problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills.
  • Compete and cooperate in alliances at tournaments.
  • Earn a place in the World Championship.
  • Qualify for more than $7 million in college scholarships.

Read more about FTC or contact ftcteams@usfirst.org
     
Learn more about FRC   Dubbed a "varsity sport for the mind," FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of 25 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program a robot to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as close to "real world" engineering that a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. 

Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18) get to:
  • Learn from professional engineers.
  • Build and compete with a robot of their own design.
  • Learn and use sophisticated hardware and software.
  • Be exposed to design, project management, programming, teamwork, strategic thinking and Coopertition™.
  • Earn a place in the Championship.
  • Qualify for nearly $15 million in college scholarships.

Read more about FRC or contact frcteams@usfirst.org

Get Involved with FIRST

Interested in getting involved in FIRST, but not sure where to start or what to do? Here you’ll find everything you need to get underway: