It’s way more than building robots
Following a sports model, FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) teams of up to 15 students design, build, program, and operate robots of their own design to play a floor game in an alliance format. Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and sharing ideas. Participants have access to tens of millions of dollars in college scholarships.
Grades 8-12; ages 13-18.* We are looking for students eager to learn team-based engineering, willing to focus on a very complex task, and engage in building a world-class team and robot. Ancillary tasks include documenting the team’s progress with an engineering notebook and portfolio, and maintaining our social media and website presence. No previous skills or training required. Willingness to learn and avidly pursue greatness is a must.
*Coach’s approval required for grade 8.
Parents participate, too – as coaches, mentors, and team support staff. Anacortes Robotics relies on FTC parents to volunteer at local ARBC-hosted FLL Explore Expositions, team community outreach events, and FIRST Washington Tournaments (FLL Challenge, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition).
The FIRST Tech Challenge team(s) that our community supports are operated by the Anacortes School District as Associated Student Body (ASB) after-school clubs. Membership is available to all students in the Anacortes School District – public, private, and home-schooled. AHS/AMS students must be members of the Associated Student Body (ASB) organization (a separate fee is paid to the school for ASB membership) and must meet AHS/AMS academic standards for extra-curricular activities as a condition of their participation.
These FTC teams, like all others in Washington, rely on support services (kickoff sessions, local to state-level tournament structure) operated by FIRST Washington, our region’s FIRST operating partner.
Proposed meeting schedule for 2023-2024:
- Mondays 3:05 pm – 5:30 pm
- Wednesdays 2:05 pm – 5:00 pm
- Fridays 3:05 pm – 5:30 pm
Probable FTC Competition schedule for 2023-2024 (team competes one full day per weekend):
- Weekend of 11/4-11/5
- Weekend of 12/2-12/3
- Weekend of 12/16-12/17
- Weekend of 1/27-1/28 (2024)
- May: Team Registration opens
- May-August: Community Outreach
- September 9, 2023: CENTERSTAGE Kickoff
- September-January: Build and Practice Season
- November-January: Competition Season
- January-February: State/Regional Championships
- April: World Championships
In the CENTERSTAGE℠ presented by Raytheon Technologies challenge, debuting September 9, 2023, FIRST Tech Challenge teams will raise the curtain on the power of design, creativity, and precision to create all new experiences. For more details: