A GLOBAL ROBOTICS COMMUNITY PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE FUTURE

We Are the World's Leading Youth-Serving Nonprofit Advancing STEM Education

Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST® is a global nonprofit organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of life-changing youth robotics programs that build skills, confidence, and resilience.

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FIRST Helps Kids "Get Anywhere"

The breadth of career opportunities that an education in STEM provides is wider than ever. Today’s students are inspired by FIRST to build futures tailored to their unique talents and interests.

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Inspiring Generations of Global Citizens

3.2 million youth participants since 1989

There are FIRST teams in 100+ countries.

81% of FIRST alumni declare majors in STEM by their fourth year of college

83% of FIRST alumni have confidence to take leadership roles in school

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Parents

Students

Educators

Volunteers

FIRST® DIVESM presented by Qualcomm

Bring STEM inspiration, holistic skill building, and fun to your classroom or after-school learning environment with collaborative problem solving during our ocean-themed 2024-2025 robotics season.

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A Suite of Hands-On STEM Programs for Every Age

Project-based, hands-on FIRST programs introduce students to engineering and coding in engaging, inclusive, and creative learning environments, where students work collaboratively to solve themed robotics challenges.

Because our programs are More Than Robots®, participants are guided by FIRST Core Values to build a better future.

Children can join any of our three programs based on age or grade level. Ages may vary by region.

GRADES
PreK-8
 
GRADESPreK-8
AGES4-16

FIRST® LEGO® League introduces STEM to children through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program using LEGO® technology, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together. FIRST LEGO League’s three divisions inspire youth to experiment and grow their critical thinking, coding, and design skills and showcase what they learned.

FIRST LEGO League is...

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FIRST LEGO League

GRADES
7-12
 
GRADES7-12
AGES12-18

FIRST® Tech Challenge students work together with their mentors to design and build robots to compete in a dynamic and exciting challenge released every September. Teams program classroom-scale robots to follow autonomous commands before student drivers take control in two-on-two matches. On and off the field, students develop STEM skills, engage in community outreach, practice engineering innovation, and build confidence to help them succeed.

FIRST Tech Challenge is...

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FIRST Tech Challenge

GRADES
9-12
 
GRADES9-12
AGES14-18

Each January brings a new challenge for FIRST® Robotics Competition teams. Starting with a Kit of Parts, they design, program, and build industrial-sized robots to play an action-packed game on a themed field as part of a three-team alliance. Guided by mentors and sponsors, students learn engineering and problem-solving skills as they compete for awards, create a team identity, raise funds, hone teamwork skills, and advance appreciation for STEM in their community.

FIRST Robotics Competition is...

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FIRST Robotics Competition

 

FIRST is a Place Where I Belong

Eduardo Pineda

FIRST Robotics Competition Team 6647 "Voltec Robotics," Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico

FIRST Robotics Competition Student

"I had a feeling that FIRST® was the place where I belonged, and that feeling has never disappeared."

Before I participated in FIRST, I never saw myself with a career, many friends, or as a...

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FIRST ® & Qualcomm: A Pioneering Partnership to Inspire Young Innovators

Qualcomm Incorporated

FIRST Strategic Partner

FIRST Sponsor

It’s a future understood by two like-minded organizations: Today’s students will be the drivers of tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Together, FIRST ® and Qualcomm IncorporatedTM are...

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In The Media

Hear what people are saying about FIRST.

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