News

Team FAR 7090 is a community team in Bristol, Virginia and we currently have space available for new team members. If you know anyone looking to join a team in the Southwest Virginia area, please share our info.

We are currently in transition to new coaching and team leadership and working to make Team FAR fun, exciting and educational while preparing to field a competitive competition robot. Last year we went to State next year we hope to progress beyond. All skill levels are welcome.

Also, we are still looking for a team that has a Velocity Vortex robot available for a gameplay demo in July at the Kingsport Makers Faire.

Please contact me at: twatson@firstappalachianrobotics.org for more info, check us out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FirstAppalachianRobotics/, or pass along our info to your friends!

In order to streamline our communications, we will be focusing our efforts on the FIRST Chesapeake @FIRSTChesapeake Twitter page and deleting the VirginiaFIRST @VirginiaFIRST Twitter account the week of June 26th. Beginning July 1st, the current FIRST Chesapeake Twitter feed will relay information about both the FIRST Chesapeake District FRC program and the Virginia FTC program.

Unfortunately Twitter accounts cannot be merged.

If you are currently following the FIRST Chesapeake Twitter feed, you do not have to do anything. Things will stay the same.
If you are currently following the VirginiaFIRST Twitter feed, please go to @FIRSTChesapeake and follow that page, as well. This will ensure you will not miss information about the Virginia FTC program via Twitter.

Please tell your coaches and mentors, teammates, friends, families, and sponsors so they can switch as well.

Thank you!

In order to streamline our communications, we will be merging the FIRST Chesapeake Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/FIRSTChesapeake/ with the VirginiaFIRST Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/virginiafirst/ the week of June 26^th. Beginning July 1^st the VirginiaFIRST page will be renamed FIRST Chesapeake, and will relay information about both the FIRST Chesapeake District FRC program and the Virginia FTC program. All of the events and information you have enjoyed will now be on this one site.

If you are have “Liked” and are currently following either page, you do not have to do anything. The merger will seamlessly bring both groups together.

However, If there are photos of you or your team on the FIRST Chesapeake page from before June 26th, those cannot be merged. Please download any photos you like before they disappear.

Thank you!

Mark your calendars NOW for the following important dates:

Kickoff AND Workshop - September 9

Due to the competition schedule being moved up, the workshop and kickoff will now be on the same day.
*NEW VENUE* We are super excited to be partnering with ECPI University for our Workshop this year. We will have TWO locations: Richmond (Innsbrook campus) and Manassas. Stay tuned for more information, but for now Save the Date!

Qualifier Events and Championship

4-Nov: Central VA, Cosby HS, Midlothian *NEW DATE AND LOCATION*
11-Nov: N. Central, Orange HS, Orange
2-Dec: Northern, Battlefield HS, Haymarket
9-Dec: Southwest, Southwest Community College, Cedar Bluff
16-Dec: Shenandoah, UVA Slaughter Center, Charlottesville
6-Jan: Eastern, *NEW LOCATION*, Heritage HS, Newport News
13-Jan: S. Central VA, *NEW EVENT*, Virginia Episcopal School, Lynchburg
3-Feb: Virginia State Championship, Location tbd

We will have more news and updates throughout the summer. Please keep in touch!

Thanks, all, for a great season! Have a fun summer.

Maureen
--
Maureen Carley
FTC Program Director

The State of Maryland Robotics Grant Program is open for funding proposals.

Estimated Average Grant Amount: $10,000
Deadline: August 9, 2017

For fundable and non-fundable activities, and proposal and submission requirements, please click here.

Hello FIRST Volunteers and Supporters!

We are in need of Volunteers to support the 2017 FIRST^® LEGO^® League Global Innovation Award on June 19 and 20, 2017, at the Kellogg Conference Center in Washington, D.C.! We would love for you to join us as the 20 finalist teams come together to celebrate their accomplishments, collaborate with minds from around the world, and share their innovative solutions!

Interested Volunteers can find details about the available volunteer roles attached to this message. If you’d like to sign up, please use the Volunteer Information and Matching System (VIMS). New to VIMS? Check out instructions for signing up here. You don’t want to miss this fantastic event full of FIRST FUN!

About the Global Innovation Award:

Throughout the FIRST LEGO League ANIMAL ALLIES^SM Season, teams have designed innovative solutions to improve the way humans and animals interact. Outstanding project solutions that demonstrate originality and have the potential to add significant value in the world are given the opportunity to participate in the annual FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award. The FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation teams are changing the world, one invention at a time.

Participating in the Global Innovation Award allows teams to compete for a top prize of $20,000 USD to continue work on their inventions and is potentially attainable by 85% of all teams from over 80 countries around the globe who attend an official tournament.

If you have any questions, or for more information, please contact the Global Innovation Award Volunteer Coordinator, JT Yoerger, at JT@CentralFloridaRobotics.org.

To be an Event Volunteer, you must be 16 years of age. Volunteers who are 13 -15 years may participate if they are volunteering with an adult (a parent or coach, for example). In addition to Event Volunteers, we have a few select opportunities on Tuesday, June 20, for FTC or FRC teams to support some specific activities with FIRST LEGO League teams. If your team is interested in this outreach opportunity, please contact Sonya at sshaver@firstinspires.org.

Thank you for your continued support! Volunteers are FIRST!

With Hi-5’s and Admiration,

Sonya Shaver
Volunteer Recognition Specialist, FIRST ^®

Phone: 603.666.3906 x 731 | sshaver@firstinspires.org

FIRST Tech Challenge Team 8297 GEARED UP! will host two open house presentations June 14th and 16th at two different Loudoun County, VA libraries.

For more information on these interest meetings or joining their team, please see this flyer.

On Thursday, June 1st, the Google DC office welcomed our seven FIRST Robotics Competition teams from District of Columbia Public Schools to a lunch reception to celebrate their hard work, creativity, resourcefulness and enthusiasm during the 2017 FIRST STEAMWORKS season. Participants included students, coaches, mentors and supporters from DCPS, FIRST Chesapeake and the following schools: