One focus of the robotics clubs is to encourage participation in the FIRST competitions.
FIRST supports several age appropriate challenges each year. The Clark County 4-H Robotics Clubs participate in FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), and an In-club FLL Challenge.
FLL Challenge, FIRST Lego League is for members ages 10 - 14. Given an unique and specific challenge each year, each group member will build robot and several attachments with Lego SPIKE Prime kits. Then they will tackle the many missions on the board by programming their robots to complete as many tasks as possible for a two and a half minute period.
FTC, FIRST Technical Challenge is for students in grades 7 through 12 Their robots are made of parts made of metal and plastic, or even 3D printed parts designed by the team members. The team tracks their progress throughout the season in their Engineering Notebook to share with the judges at the final tournament.
FRC, FIRST Robotics Competition is for high school students. At this level the playing field expands and so do the robots. Weighing in at 120 lbs., these robots play on a bigger field for bigger rewards. Teamwork and cooperation is key as they form alliances to acquire ranking points to advance to higher competitions.
Core Values
The FLL Core Values are the cornerstones of the FLL program, but they also resonate with the other FIRST programs. By embracing the Core Values, participants learn that friendly competition and mutual gain are not separate goals, and that helping one another is the foundation of teamwork.
Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.
Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
Impact: We apply what we learn to improve our world.
Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.
Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.
Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!
At the middle and high school level students not only have to work together as a team, they also have to work with other teams in a two-way (FTC) or three-way (FRC) alliance. The experienced teams have learned how to use all the talents their members have to offer. Besides engineering and programming, there is also a need for a business plan, a marketing strategy, a website, advertising, artistic talent, and much more.
Businesses, industry, and colleges have caught on, too. This is the talent pool they want to pull from when they are looking to hire the best and the brightest. Which explains the more than $16 million in scholarships that are available to FRC participants.
So what do you think? You want to build with us?