"To transform our culture by creating a world where science and
technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming
science and technology leaders."
- Dean Kamen, Founder of FIRST
Although he holds hundreds of U.S. and foreign patents, one of the things Dean Kamen is most proud of is that he founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). The program requires teams of students to come together with adult mentors and businesses from their community to build a robot that goes along with the challenge Dean and the other FIRST gurus announce each year. FIRST serves as a way to keep students excited and interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
FIRST is not only about the advancement of science and technology in our society, FIRST is also a vehicle for inspiring students to become better members of their community. It does this through coopertition, gracious professionalism, and student leadership. Coopertition is cooperating with your competition. At competitions, teams help each other out when they need assistance This could be answering questions or lending them a part for the robot. Gracious professionalism is the idea of respecting your competition and competing with integrity. Manners are used to help maintain this focus. The goal of FIRST is to have students take charge of what happens throughout the season. This means that the students assume leadership positions and they are able to gain valuable experience making decisions and figuring out how best to lead the team.
FIRST Progression of Programs:
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 2012-2013 FIRST season attracted more than 300,000 youth and more than 120,000 Mentors, Coaches, and Volunteers from 70+ 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.
Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL):
Jr.FLL captures young children’s inherent curiosity and directs it toward discovering the wonders of science and technology. This program features a real-world scientific concept to be explored through research, teamwork, construction, and imagination. Guided by adult Coaches, teams use LEGO®bricks to build a model that moves and develop a Show-Me Poster to illustrate their journey.
Children ages 6 to 9 get to:
FIRST LEGO League (FLL):
In (FLL), children are immersed in real-world science and technology challenges. Teams design their own solution to a current scientific question or problem and build autonomous LEGO robots that perform a series of missions. Through their participation, children develop valuable life skills and discover exciting career possibilities while learning that they can make a positive contribution to society.
Children ages 9 to 16 (9-14 in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico) get to:
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC):
(FTC) is designed for high-schoolers 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 on a 12 X 12’ field in an Alliance format against other teams. Robots are built using a TETRIX® platform that is reusable from year-to-year 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 community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.
Students get to:
FIRST Robotics Competition:
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 as a student can get. Professional Mentors volunteer their time and talents to guide each team.
Students get to:
FIRST is not only about the advancement of science and technology in our society, FIRST is also a vehicle for inspiring students to become better members of their community. It does this through coopertition, gracious professionalism, and student leadership. Coopertition is cooperating with your competition. At competitions, teams help each other out when they need assistance This could be answering questions or lending them a part for the robot. Gracious professionalism is the idea of respecting your competition and competing with integrity. Manners are used to help maintain this focus. The goal of FIRST is to have students take charge of what happens throughout the season. This means that the students assume leadership positions and they are able to gain valuable experience making decisions and figuring out how best to lead the team.
FIRST Progression of Programs:
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 2012-2013 FIRST season attracted more than 300,000 youth and more than 120,000 Mentors, Coaches, and Volunteers from 70+ 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.
Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL):
Jr.FLL captures young children’s inherent curiosity and directs it toward discovering the wonders of science and technology. This program features a real-world scientific concept to be explored through research, teamwork, construction, and imagination. Guided by adult Coaches, teams use LEGO®bricks to build a model that moves and develop a Show-Me Poster to illustrate their journey.
Children ages 6 to 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 teamwork skills.
- Choose to participate in events and celebrations.
- Engage in team activities guided by Jr.FLL Core Values.
FIRST LEGO League (FLL):
In (FLL), children are immersed in real-world science and technology challenges. Teams design their own solution to a current scientific question or problem and build autonomous LEGO robots that perform a series of missions. Through their participation, children develop valuable life skills and discover exciting career possibilities while learning that they can make a positive contribution to society.
Children ages 9 to 16 (9-14 in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico) get to:
- Create innovative solutions for challenges facing today’s scientists as part of their research project.
- Strategize, design, build, program, and test a robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technology.
- 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.
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC):
(FTC) is designed for high-schoolers 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 on a 12 X 12’ field in an Alliance format against other teams. Robots are built using a TETRIX® platform that is reusable from year-to-year 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 community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.
Students 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 over $11 million in college scholarships.
FIRST Robotics Competition:
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 as a student can get. Professional Mentors volunteer their time and talents to guide each team.
Students get to:
- Work alongside professional engineers.
- Build and compete with a robot of their own design.
- Learn and use sophisticated hardware and software.
- Develop design, project management, programming, teamwork, and strategic thinking skills.
- Earn a place in the Championship.
- Qualify for over $16 million in college scholarships.
