FIRST World Championship, April 24-27

Posted on April 19, 2013 by tmw2010

Championship graphicThe FIRST Championship is the culmination of the season’s FIRST programs, bringing together three separate robotics competitions for the ultimate Sport for the Mind™. The event includes the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship, the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship, and the FIRST LEGO League World Festival. Also featured is the Junior FIRST LEGO League World Festival Expo.

The high-tech spectator events combine the excitement of sport with science and technology. Join students as they showcase the results of weeks of intense preparation, competing in thrilling matches and working on their robots in the “Pits.” This event is open to the public, free of charge.

Teams from all over Florida will be at the event, including:

FRC Teams

79- Tarpon Springs , FL
180 – Stuart, FL
233 -Rockledge/Cocoa Beach, FL
744 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Galileo
801 – Merritt Island, FL
1251 Coconut Creek, FL
1523 – Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens, FL
1902 – Winter Park, FL
2383 – Plantation, FL
3242 – Ocala, FL
3410 – Miami, FL
3627- Sarasota, FL
4471 -Hollywood, FL -

FTC Teams
5070 N.U.T.S. Orlando FL
3846 Maelstrom Tampa FL

FLL Team
10299 Taz Bots RENEGADES 8 H Boca Raton FL

Visit the Official FIRST Championship page for absolutely everything related to the event!  And watch live action streaming throughout the event courtesy of NASA - http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/robotics/

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RoboShow Orlando

Posted on February 21, 2013 by tmw2010

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Be a Florida FIRST Showcase Team!

Posted on February 14, 2013 by tmw2010

FL FIRST Showcase TeamNo one tells – or shows – the FIRST story better than FIRST teams! FIRST in Florida is raising the bar in showcasing FIRST statewide, and we’re inviting Florida teams – Jr. FLL, FLL, FTC & FRC –  to be an active part of our statewide outreach efforts, gain some recognition for your teams and schools, and hone student marketing and presentation skills in the process. Here’s how it works:

1. Actively and professionally participate in a minimum of three outreach events organized in Florida by FIRST.

2. Document involvement in at least three additional outreach events in your community – science fairs, e-week, etc..

That’s it! Of course, we have some protocols for teams seeking Showcase status.

  • GP conduct at all times – Everyone (adults & students) at an event must be dressed appropriately, business casual with team shirts, and long pants, unless otherwise advised; be attentive to guests, and chaperons must be attentive to kids – no texting, non-FIRST game playing (gaming, horseplay, etc)
  • Students do the outreach – We’re trying to showcase how capable our students are and they need every opportunity to become capable of explaining what they do and how they do it. Outreach events are great practice!
  •  Understand your FIRST program – Team members should have an “elevator speech” explanation of FIRST that’s easy for kids to share (i.e. something like “FIRST teaches science and engineering through robot competitions.”), and introduce FIRST programs by their full name before using the acronyms.
  • Be informed about the event at which you’re exhibiting – And be able to relate FIRST involvement to the business community involved in the event.

Showcase teams will be

  • Recognized on the FIRST in Florida website at http://www.FL-FIRST.org
  • Receive letters of appreciation from FIRST in Florida, and
  • Receive the FIRST Blue Ribbon icon above to use on team websites and promotional materials.

Documentation of outreach will be accepted throughout the calendar year, January through December. If you want to be a FIRST Showcase Team, included in outreach opportunities in your area, email twillingham@usfirst.org with your team name, number and contact information, along with the area in which you’re available for outreach. All teams will always be advised of outreach opportunities, but teams that signify a special interest in outreach will be contacted for regional and media opportunities that may arise.

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Tampa Bay FIRST Benefit Showcase Brings Teams & Business Community Together

Posted on February 5, 2013 by tmw2010

final programThe first ever Tampa Bay FIRST  Benefit Showcase event, sponsored by USF Connect and the Florida High Tech Corridor and held February 3rd at the University of South Florida, brought area teams and members of the Tampa Bay business and technical community together to raise awareness about the academic and career readiness value of FIRST, and to build support for the Orlando Regional FIRST Robotics Competition event.

FIRST founder Dean Kamen recorded a special message, just for our event, and FIRST alumni Barry Bohnsack, now with Lockheed Martin and an FIRST in Tampa Bay-cactive FIRST volunteer, provided the keynote address, giving a powerful overview of FIRST and its proven relationship to academic achievement and workforce readiness.  FIRST alumni Jessie Poen, a Dean’s List winner and FIRST Ambassador at both the Orlando Regional and the South Florida Regional, shared her experience, which included earning six community scholarships based on her FIRST involvement and a spot in the USF Honors College.  And special guest Patricia Gehant, Director of Workforce Initiative with the Tampa Bay Technology Forum and the value of FIRST to help close the technology gap for students and satisfy workforce needs for Tampa Bay.

Area teams from Academy at the Lakes in Land O’Lakes, who brought their FLL & FRC Wired Wildcats teams, Middleton High School’s Minotaur FRC team and Palm Harbor University High School’s FTC team, Pandara did a fantastic job showcasing their work for event attendees.  Showcase attendees were even treated to a great research presentation by the Wired Wildcats FLL team, that pretty much stole the show!

Showcase guestsWe’re deeply grateful to the  business leaders and organizations that showed up on Super Bowl Sunday to celebrate a different kind of Army ROTC-c hero – youth and their mentors who are transforming our culture by creating the science and technology leaders we need in the world.  In addition to representatives from USF Connect and the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, we were happy to  welcome business leaders from the Southeast Capital Equity Group,  the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Basler Electric,   2Z Consulting Inc. and Bar Camp Tampa Bay, among others.

alumn-c

FIRST Alumni members Andrew Schreiber, Victoria Burg, Barry Bohnsack and Jessie Poen.

The involvement of Florida FIRST Alumni was an especially powerful part of the program, giving guests an opportunity to meet and hear firsthand the personal experiences of former FIRST students and how FIRST paved the way for academic and career opportunities for them.

Thank you to all who made the Tampa Bay FIRST Benefit Showcase possible, and so enjoyable!

learning from alumni-c

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Tampa Bay FIRST Benefit Showcase – February 3rd, Univ. of South Florida

Posted on January 17, 2013 by tmw2010

You’re invited to the Tampa Bay FIRST Benefit Showcase where we welcome area business, education and technology leaders to join us for a complimentary meet and greet with area FIRST robotics teams and their mentors. FIRST® K-12 STEM education programs use robot challenges to build science and technology skills and interests, along with self-confidence, leadership, and life skills . In Tampa Bay, FIRST serves over 2000 students at more than 50 schools across four counties. At the high school level, over $16 million in scholarships are available to participating students.

At Tampa Bay Showcase Benefit, we’ll have h’ordeuvres and refreshments, and guests will learn about the academic, economic and social benefits of this great STEM education program , as well as hear from both student and community business leader keynotes, enjoy some some short films, and perhaps drive a robot!

The event is free to attend, and Table Sponsorships  for your business or organization are available.   Seating is limited. Please RSVP to attend by Jan. 21st or to be a Tampa Bay FIRST Benefit Showcase Table Sponsor, by Jan. 28th to twillingham@usfirst.org.   Proceeds benefit the  FIRST Robotics Competition Orlando Regional.

The Tampa Bay FIRST Benefit Showcase is sponsored by USF Connect and the Florida High Tech Corridor.

Benefit Invitation

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FRC Update: Payments for additional Regional Events & Championship Deadline,2013 FIRST Scholarship Opportunity Updates, FIRST Virtual Technical Advisor and Much More!

Posted on January 17, 2013 by tmw2010

FRCicon_RGBGreetings Teams:

Payments for Additional Regional Events & Championship Deadline: Payments for additional regional events and Championship are due Friday, 1/25/13 – please confirm withFIRST Finance you have the funding for the events for which you are registered,  if they are not paid at this time. If you do not have the funding, please email ar@usfirst.org as to your status. We do have a waitlist of teams wanting to go to specific events, so if you do not have the funding to attend please let us know so we can give another team the opportunity.

2013 FIRST Scholarship Opportunity Updates:  Find out about recently confirmed scholarships, the new Bart Kamen FIRST Memorial Scholarship Fund, and all FIRSTScholarships with deadlines in February.  See all at: http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/About_Us/Scholarships/2013_Assets/FIRST_Scholarship_News_1-17-13.pdf.

Team Updates: Team Updates will be available every Tuesday and Friday through Thursday, 2/14/13, then every Tuesday through Championship. Team Updates can be found here: http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/Updates/0.

FRC Blog: Please visit the FRC Blog: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-team-update-1-15-2013 for important information on a recent Team Update.

FIRST® Virtual Technical Advisor: Are you looking for help with your robot? Do you have technical experience and want to help a team? We have the solution! FIRST Virtual Technical Advisor (VTA) is here to help! Sign up to find/give support from anywhere in the world!https://my.usfirst.org/FIRSTPortal/Login/Virtual_login.aspx.

Consent and Release Forms: If you haven’t done so already, please consider which 2013FIRST Consent and Release form your team members will be submitting this season.  Remember, if you choose to submit the electronic Consent and Release form you will only need to do so once to attend the 2013 FRC competition events. Students and their parents access the electronic form in STIMS; adult mentors in TIMS).

If anyone on your team opts to submit a hard-copy Consent and Release form instead, please download at: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/first-student-team-information-members-system-and-consent-form and follow instructions for submission located in the “Process Overview Document”.

If team members submitted hard-copy Consent and Release forms for Kickoff, please note that they will need to supply another hard-copy Consent and Release form for your team’s competition event. Electronic Consent and Release forms do not need to be resubmitted.

Michigan (FiM) and MAR (Mid-Atlantic Robotics) teams will find instructions specific to their Consent and Release form submissions in the “process overview document” as well.

Print your Team Roster! No matter which method you choose (electronic or hard-copy), you MUST print off your Team Roster from TIMS and bring it with you to your initial competition event. To print the Team Roster:

1)  On the Team Summary page in TIMS, scroll down to the “Student/Roster” field.

2)  Click “View” next to Team Roster.

3) Click Printable Roster.

4) If you have any students/mentors who are providing hard-copy forms, please write in their names on the printed roster and attach their Consent and Release forms.

For more information about the 2013 Consent and Release form, including FAQs and a helpful process overview, please visit: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/first-student-team-information-members-system-and-consent-form.

Go Teams!

FRC Team Support

 

FIRST® is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Public Charity

V 1(800)871-8326

F 603-666-3907

E frcteams@usfirst.org

W http://www.usfirst.org

Filed under: FIRST Championship, FIRST events, FIRST Resources, FRC, STEM news | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Jr.FLL Update: World Festival Expo, Coach Survey, SUPER SENIORS Challenge & More

Posted on January 10, 2013 by tmw2010

JrFLLicon_RGB–>World Festival Expo

Get your team application in now!  The team application is due by Jan 14.  If you’re interested in attending this year, the application is posted on the website.  Teams are chosen to attend via lottery, so all interested teams are encouraged to apply. Don’t know what the World Festival Expo is?  Learn about it here, and don’t forget to check out the pictures from last year!

–>Coach Survey

Has your team completed the Super Seniors season?  Tell us what you thought about it!  Please help us make Jr.FLL better by taking 5 minutes and completing the coach survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZFYNBQS

–>Drum Roll Please…

The 2013 Jr.FLL Challenge Theme is… DISASTER BLASTERSM!

Can Junior FIRST® LEGO® League teams help us master natural disasters?  In the 2013 DISASTER BLASTER℠ Challenge, over 22,000 children ages 6 to 9 from 12 countries will explore the awe-inspiring storms, quakes, waves and more that we call natural disasters.  Teams will learn how science, technology, engineering, and math impact our everyday lives while they get excited about future innovations.  Brace yourself for DISASTER BLASTER!

Each year, Jr.FLL presents a new and exciting Challenge to ignite the inherent creativity in young children.  While exploring natural disasters, teams will learn about simple machines as they build a model made of LEGO® elements with a motorized part and learn to present information through aShow Me Poster.  Throughout their experience, teams will operate under Jr.FLL’s signature set of Core Values.

–>SUPER SENIORS℠ Challenge

Get the most out of your season and don’t forget to download the specific season Challenge document after you register your team.  The Challenge document is available for download once you pay for your team registration and the link to download can be found on your Team Summary page.  In the Challenge document the topic is presented to them at Jr.FLL age level so that when teams are considering their building and research direction they can focus and think about very specific themes within the larger topic.  If you have any problems finding your Challenge documents, please get in touch with Team Support at jrfllteams@usfirst.org

–>Jr.FLL Online Showcase

Is your team interested in connecting with other Jr.FLL teams?  Do you not have many teams in yourarea, but you still want to participate in an Event?  Does your team want to share their work with the world?  The Jr.FLL Online Showcase has been developed to do just that! The Jr.FLL Online Showcase is the newest way for Jr.FLL teams to share the work they are doing this season.  On the Online Showcase, coaches create a profile, upload team pictures and then with the team, search for other teams around the world and award them virtual stickers for a job well done. It’s an awesome way for teams to connect with each other!

Check out the Jr.FLL Online Showcase at jrfllshowcase.usfirst.org.

–>Volunteer Survey

The Volunteer Resources department here at FIRST Headquarters is looking for some feedback.  If you’d like to take a couple of minutes and help us out, please take our volunteer survey.

–>Questions?

As always if you have any questions at all drop us a note at jrfllteams@usfirst.org.

–>Helpful Links

Links - YouTube Jr.FLL Marketing Tools TeamUp Forums

Email - jrfllteams@usfirst.org

Phone # 1-800-871-8326 x 0

LEGO Education

www.legoeducation.us

1-800-362-4308

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Call for FIRST Outreach Teams in Central Florida

Posted on January 8, 2013 by tmw2010

We are FIRST v 2 croppedThere’s no shortage of upcoming opportunities to share your love of FIRST in Central Florida! The following are events to which FIRST  has been invited to have a showcase exhibit presence and we’re looking for showcase teams to participate!

Please reply to twillingham@usfirst.org by the requested date listed next to each event, to be included.  These events will be staffed on a first come, first served basis.

These are active and important (and fun!) outreach events, and participating teams must be able to represent FIRST at the highest level, exhibiting GP conduct at all times, being articulate about their FIRST involvement, capable of engaging event guests in meaningful conversation about what they do and why they do it, and inviting to student visitors to try their hands at driving, CAD or related engineering activities.

Participating teams will receive letters of appreciation from FIRST in Florida, and can use these opportunities to promote their team along with FIRST, get in some drive practice, network with potential new mentors and supporters, learn new things,  and hone presentation and interview skills.  And if you want to see FIRST teams in action, look for our FIRST in Florida Exhibit areas at each of these events!

Upcoming FIRST Outreach Opportunities – January – March, 2013

1 ) Otronicon, Orlando Science Center – Friday, January 18-Monday, January 21  - reply by Jan. 11

The schedule this year is as follows:

  •   Friday                    January 18,          10am – 9pm –
  • Saturday                 January 19           10am – 9pm
  • Sunday                   January 20           10am – 5pm
  • Monday                   January 21          10am– 5pm -

All program levels, need teams of 3-4 students with 1-2 mentors able to provide outreach and demonstration in 3-4 hour shifts

 2) FIRST Night Showcase, Univ. of South Florida, Tampa – Sunday Feb. 3 – 2pm-6pm - reply by  January 25

  • Need 2-4 FRC teams for this Orlando Regional fundraiser event, and 1-2 FLL and FTC teams

3) USF Engineering Expo February 22-23, 2013, University of South FL, Tampa – from 9:00AM – 4:00PM – reply by Feb. 15

  • All programs – able to provide outreach and demos in 4 hour shifts - FIRST will have a full exhibit area at the expo this year

4) Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, Pasco Rotary Concourse, Hudson  - March 23 – 10-6pm – reply by March 15

  • All programs – 2-3 teams each, Jr. FLL, FLL, FTC & FRC  – outreach and demos throughout the day

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FRCs Ultimate Ascent Puts all Four FIRST Programs Underway!

Posted on January 5, 2013 by tmw2010

FIRST_Homepage_Ascent_graphicsIt’s official – with the kick-off of the 2013 FIRST Robotics Competition, Ultimate Ascent,  earlier today, all four FIRST K-12 programs are underway in Florida and nationwide! The intense six week FRC build, this year throws a bunch of old rules out the building, with new drive train possibilities, new components, and a whole new game!  Teams all over the country and internationally gathered together in schools, arenas, homes, Boys & Girls Clubs, 4H centers, and wherever they could to watch the 2013 Season Kick-off.

At the Orlando Science Schools, one of three kick-off locations in Florida, 14 teams came from across central Florida to pick up their Kit watching Grant Imahara videoof Parts and see the kick off. While they waited for the kick off, they sat in on some great presentations on solid design processes and good drive trains, courtesy of hosting team, Clockwork Mania . We’ll be archiving the presentations on our Library page soon.

considering drive trains Now it’s nose to the grindstone for a frenetic six weeks of building before it’s tools down on February 19.

So right now, all over Florida, students in kindergarten through high school are hard at work researching, designing, building, programming and doing outreach in Jr. FIRST LEGO League (Jr. FLL) , FIRST LEGO League (FLL) , FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC),  with students in the latter three vying for coveted spots, via their Regional events, in the FIRST World Championship in St. Louis, MO in April.

If things are heating up in Florida, it’s all that brain power – the collective intellectual and creative energy of nearly 10,000 young people enthusiastically building and learning as they go, developing the teamwork and technical skills to create a better future for themselves, and for us!

Go teams!

Filed under: FIRST in the News, FIRST events, FIRST in Florida, FTC, FLL, STEM news, FIRST Resources, Jr. FLL, FRC, Orlando Regional, South Florida Regional, FIRST Championship | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

FRC Update: Safety Animation Award Submission Deadline TODAY @ 12 Noon, TIMS, 2013 Mentor Certificate of Appreciation, Scholarships & More!

Posted on December 13, 2012 by tmw2010
FRCicon_RGBGreetings Teams:
Safety Animation Award Submission Deadline: The deadline to submit Safety Animation submissions is today, 12/13/12 at 12 pm (noon) ET in STIMS: https://my.usfirst.org/stims/site.lasso.
Team Profile Information in TIMS will be exported on Monday, 12/19/12: This information is used for program books that are distributed to visitors, VIPS and teams at events. To make sure that you have the most up to date information included in your profile:
2) Under Teams I can Administer, click the Edit button for your team.
3) The Team Profile section, click the Edit/View button for Team Information.
2013 Mentor Certificate of Appreciation: Please be sure to invite all of your FRC mentors to your team’s TIMS record so they can receive their 2013 recognition certificate and pin in January during National Mentor Month. In order for team mentors to receive their recognition items, they must be registered as a mentor in TIMS by tomorrow, 12/14/12.
2013 FIRST Scholarship Opportunity Updates:  Find out about recently confirmed scholarships, a recently discontinued scholarship, and all FIRST Scholarships with deadlines in January.  Juniors and Educators, take note of a special leadership training and scholarship opportunity to attend the 2013 Aspen Ideas Festival. See all at:http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/About_Us/Scholarships/2013_Assets/FIRST_Scholarship_News_12-13-12.pdf.
Consent and Release Forms: If you haven’t done so already, please consider which 2013 FIRST Consent and Release form your team members will be submitting this season.  Remember, electronic Consent and Release forms “cover” individuals at all 2013FIRST competition events (students and their parents access the electronic form in STIMS; adult mentors in TIMS).
If anyone on your team opts to submit a hard-copy Consent and Release form instead, please download at:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/first-student-team-information-members-system-and-consent-form and follow instructions for submission located in the “Process Overview Document”.
Michigan (FiM) and MAR (Mid-Atlantic Robotics) teams will find instructions specific to their Consent and Release form submissions in the “Process Overview Document” as well.
Print your Team Roster! No matter which method you choose (electronic or hard-copy), you MUST print off your Team Roster from TIMS and bring it with you to your Kickoff, and your initial Competition event.  To print the Team Roster:
1)    On the Team Summary page in TIMS, scroll down to the “Student/Roster” field.
2)    Click “View” next to Team Roster.
3)    Click Printable Roster.
4)    If you have any students/mentors who are providing hard-copy forms, please write in their names on the printed roster and attach their Consent and Release forms.
For more information about the 2013 Consent and Release form, including FAQs and a helpful Process Overview, please visit:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/first-student-team-information-members-system-and-consent-form.
Surrogate Kit Pickup Reminder: If a team is unable to pick up its KoP at the Local Kickoff selected, an alternate, or “Surrogate” team may be designated to do so. The team must provide FIRST with an authorized Surrogate Kit Pickup letter, signed by the main or alternate contact, on school or sponsor letterhead that follows this template: http://tinyurl.com/cy6kkfr.
All Surrogate Kit Pickup letters must be received at FIRST no later than 5:00 pm ET on 12/31/12.  
The surrogate letter should be sent or faxed to: 

FIRST 
Attn: FRC Team Support/Operations
200 Bedford Street
Manchester, NH 03101
Fax #: 603-666-3907
Or scanned and emailed to frcteams@usfirst.org .
Go Teams!
FRC Team Support
 
FIRST® is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Organization
V 603-666-3906
F 603-666-3907
E frcteams@usfirst.org

 

Filed under: FIRST events, FIRST Resources, FRC, STEM news | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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