Read below for more details about our FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Program and how you can get involved.
Who is this for? Our FIRST Robotics Competition program is for students in 9th-12th grade. Any students from the region are welcome to participate, regardless of past experience.
What will my student learn? FRC students are challenged to learn real-world skills across a broad range of disciplines including design, engineering, programming, and business. Each year, students have to build a 120+ lb robot from scratch during a compressed 8-10 week build season, then they travel to competitions around the northeast to compete against other high school teams. Success at these events can even qualify the team for the FIRST Championship in Houston, which we just qualified for in 2026. Students learn advanced topics such as Onshape CAD, CNC and other custom fabrication, Java programming including OOP and AI, and electrical engineering. Some students also contribute to the business development of the program including fundraising, marketing, and communications.
When does the team meet? The FRC meeting schedule will be roughly as follows depending on space and mentor availability (note that students are encouraged to attend as many meetings as possible but it's OK if they can't be at all of them):
June-August: 1 meeting per week
September-December: 1-2 meetings per week (TBD)
January-March: 3 meetings per week, typically Tuesday/Thursday evenings and all day Saturdays.
September-March: 2 meetings per week (likely 3 for advanced squads), probably on Saturday mornings and a weekday evening
The team typically travels to two multi-day competitions per year, in cities like Pittsburgh, Rochester, Cleveland, and New York City. Travel to these events is not required for students, but they are amazing, high energy experiences that are not to be missed!
How much does it cost to participate? We aim to keep the program as affordable as possible while still meeting our financial obligations like rent, supplies, registration fees. FRC students will be asked to contribute:
$30/year in dues to 4-H
$70/year in dues to CentreSTEM, the organization that hosts our meeting space
Students traveling to competitions are encouraged to reimburse the club for their hotel and other team-incurred expenses, typically around $250 per event. Scholarship money is available for those who wish to travel with the team but cannot fully pay this amount.
Additional voluntary donations to CentreSTEM to support our ongoing mission are encouraged. Visit centrestem.org/donate for more information on this.
How can parents support the program? We love involved parents! Parents can help out in a variety of ways:
Technical mentors
Non-technical support mentors
Fundraising
Provide meals for Saturday meetings
Chaperone and support competitions
How do I know if I should sign up for FTC or FRC if I have a high school student? New this year, we are running one or more "Advanced" squads for high school students who choose to compete in FTC and not FRC, our high school-only club. Our goal with these "Advanced" FTC teams is to develop more advanced skills in areas like CAD and programming and inspire our younger FTC students to see what's possible with more experience. FRC provides a more intense, shorter build and competition season in the spring with a higher time commitment and more travel. If you are unsure which is the best program to choose, please contact both Vivian Servey (vivian.servey@gmail.com) and Bill Jester (billjester3@gmail.com) so we can help you decide. You are also welcome to visit both clubs before choosing.
How can I sign up for the club? If this all sounds good to you, click the button below to officially sign up.
What if I have questions? Contact Bill Jester at billjester3@gmail.com.