A Global Robotics
Community
Preparing Young
People for the
Future
DISCOVER A MENTOR-BASED TEAM PROGRAM
THAT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN ROBOTS
MISSION
We’re here to provide life-changing robotics programs that give young people in DC, Maryland, and Virginia the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world.
FIRST® inspires young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
FIRST Chesapeake, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the official FIRST Partner Organization for FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia as well as FIRST LEGO® League Explore in Maryland.
OUR PROGRAM
Mentor Based, Student Centered
GRADES 2 — 8
3,893
Students Participating
1,793
Mentors
FIRST LEGO League participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together. Students engage in hands-on STEM experiences, building confidence, growing their knowledge and developing habits of learning.
GRADES 7 — 12
1,951
Students
586
Mentors
FIRST Tech Challenge students learn to think like engineers. Teams design, build, and code 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 programming.
GRADES 9 — 12
2,778
Students Participating
944
Mentors
FIRST Robotics Competition teams design, program, and build a robot starting with a standard kit of parts and common set of rules to play in a themed head-to-head challenge. Teams also build a brand, develop community partnerships for support, and work to promote STEM in their local community.
WHY FIRST CHESAPEAKE
Inspiring young people to be science and technology leaders
IMPACT
FIRST Chesapeake in Numbers
75%
FIRST Alumni are in a STEM field as a student or professional.
2x
More likely to show gains in their interest of STEM.
95%
Teamwork skills increase.
$80m
In available scholarships.
COLLABORATION
Our Industry Partners