What is FIRST Tech Challenge?

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a competition where creativity, competition, and chaos collide — in the best way possible. Teams of up to fifteen students design, build, and code their own robots to tackle a brand-new themed challenge each season. Using Java, CAD design, sensors, and 3D-printed parts, we turn wild ideas into working machines that drive, lift, launch, and sometimes even surprise us. But FTC isn’t just about robots — it’s about teamwork, strategy, and innovation. Every match is a mix of engineering, problem-solving, and adrenaline as teams form alliances and battle it out on the field. Along the way, we learn real-world STEM skills, do community outreach, and have a blast pushing our limits (and our robots). 

FIRST Age: Decode

Welcome to FIRST AGE: DECODE, the 2025–2026 FIRST Tech Challenge season! This year’s game dives into the mysteries of ancient artifacts and how technology can help us understand the past to shape the future. Teams will design, build, and code robots to complete intricate field tasks in both autonomous and driver-controlled modes, using sensors, precision, and strategy to “decode” each challenge. The season encourages teams to think like explorers and engineers — uncovering creative solutions, refining their designs, and learning from every match. FTC: DECODE is all about innovation, collaboration, and discovery — and we can’t wait to see what secrets teams unlock this season. 

Our Goals

Recources

FIRST Tech Challenge is a challenging thing to do. That is why we have made a list of recources here:

Official FIRST Tech Challenge Resources

• Official FIRST Tech Challenge website: https://www.firstinspires.org/programs/ftc/ 

• Cost and Registration page: https://www.firstinspires.org/programs/cost-and-registration 

• Current season game and materials: https://ftc-resources.firstinspires.org/ftc/game 

• Gracious Professionalism: https://community.firstinspires.org/what-gracious-professionalism-means-to-me-25-voices-from-the-first-community 

• Mental health Awareness: https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/web/about/policy/Mental-Health-Resources-2025_.pdf?hsLang=en 

Fundraising Ideas

FIRST Tech Challenge is quite expensive, so here are some ways to receive funds for your team.

• Apply for grants

• Ask for sponsorships of fifty to one hundred dollars from small businesses

• Become a nonprofit and set up booths at community engagement events

• Custom website and make a donation page

• Play music and have a hat open for tips for a couple of hours at music festivals

• Online coding classes

• Sell handmade goods

• Offer services like dog walking, lawn mowing, snow shoveling, and scooping up leaves

• Make a chess tournament

Videos

Here are some videos that helped us and so we believe they will help you too!