FTC Link

FIRST Chesapeake's FTC News

Stay informed and connected!

Welcome to the 💙 February FTC Link Newsletter!

Check out this month's highlights and reminders!

This month's newsletter at a glance:

• Thank you!
• We want to hear from you!
• FTC Chesapeake Championship- A few more vols needed!
• World Championship in Houston
• What is a Premier Event?
• Mentor Conference
• ***Be a host for 25-26 FTC Season- Complete our form!
• Off Season Activities

THANK YOU!

As our FTC season comes to a close, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our entire community—coaches, mentors, volunteers, parents, and, most importantly, the incredible teams who made this season so special. Your dedication, creativity, and passion for STEM continue to inspire and drive the spirit of FIRST.

A huge congratulations to the teams who advanced to the next level! Your hard work and perseverance have paid off, and we can't wait to see what you accomplish next. For those wrapping up their season, take pride in all you've learned, built, and achieved—we know this is just the beginning of many great things to come.



Thank you all for an unforgettable season. Keep innovating, collaborating, and inspiring!

We want to hear from you!

Your feedback helps us improve and make FTC even better! Let us know what went well, what could be better, and any ideas you have for the future. Every comment makes a difference!

Fill out a survey using the link below—we appreciate your input! 🚀🤖

#YourVoiceMatters #FTCSuggestions #HelpUsImprove

Congratulations to Teams Advancing to District Championship!

🎉 Congratulations to the Advancing FTC Teams! 🎉

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to all the teams who have advanced!

We are so proud of each and every one of you.

!! Champs Volunteers Needed !!

Please apply and join us in the fun!

Needed:

4 Field Inspectors

1 Experienced Photographer

2 Experienced Refs

Use the button below to link to your Dashboard and get signed up today!

Ready to Host the

FTC 2025-2026 Season?

Interested in hosting an event for the 25-26 season?

If you are a returning host, please make sure that you submit a form. If you don't submit a request, you will not be considered.

Use the link below to share your interest with Chesapeake as we begin planning for next year.

Benefits:

• Less travel for your team
• Preference when choosing qualifiers
• Behind the scenes look at competition
• Outreach opportunities for your team
• Ensures that we have enough events for all teams to have 2 qualifiers. (Without enough venues, we cannot make that guarantee.)

Mentor Conference is coming to town!

Save the date: May 17, 2025

9am-4pm Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Join us for a day filled with engaging opportunities to grow as a robotics mentor and connect with others in the FIRST community:

• Expert Insights: Learn from renowned speakers and moderators sharing expertise in fundraising, program transitions, and sustainable mentorship.
• Interactive Breakouts: Participate in dynamic sessions on practical topics like fundraising basics and transitioning between robotics programs.
• Panel Discussions: Hear from experienced coaches as they share success stories and strategies to overcome challenges.
• Tech Talks: Explore quick, impactful talks covering technical and non-technical aspects of FLL, FTC, FRC, and more.
• Networking Opportunities: Build connections during coffee breaks, lunch, and a happy hour designed for collaboration and idea-sharing.
• Interactive Sessions: Dive into hands-on discussions about season planning, diversity strategies, youth leadership, and program sustainability.

This conference offers a chance to gain valuable insights, exchange ideas, and strengthen your mentoring toolkit!

What is a Premier Event?

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Premier Events are a new addition for the 2024-2025 season, designed to provide teams with additional high-caliber competition opportunities beyond the traditional FIRST Championship. These events celebrate FTC teams' achievements and offer unique experiences across various locations.

Advancement to Premier Events:

Teams qualify for Premier Events based on their performance at their District Championship events, similar to the advancement process for the FIRST World Championship. After District Championship results are submitted, qualifying teams receive an email inviting them to register for the FIRST Championship or, within a limited time, opt to attend a Premier Event instead. Teams not advancing to the FIRST Championship are then invited to Premier Events, where they can provide a ranked list of preferred events. Assignments are made based on these preferences and event capacities. ***Total number of Premier Event spots have not been released yet.

Off Season Activities can Begin!

Even though the season may be over, there are plenty of ways to stay engaged and prepare for the next challenge! Here are some great off-season activities for your team:

• Reflect & Review 📝
• Analyze match performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Discuss what worked well and what could be better next season.
• Gather team feedback and document lessons learned.
• Upgrade Your Robot 🤖
• Experiment with new designs, drivetrains, or mechanisms.
• Improve programming skills and refine autonomous strategies.
• Test different sensors and integrate new technologies.
• Learn New Skills 💡
• Take online courses on coding, CAD, or electronics.
• Attend workshops or training sessions.
• Practice project management and engineering notebook documentation.
• Engage in Outreach & Community Service 🌍
• Host robotics demos at local schools or libraries.
• Mentor younger teams or start an FLL team.
• Participate in STEM advocacy or volunteer at robotics events.
• Fundraising & Sponsorships 💰
• Apply for new grants and seek sponsorships.
• Plan and host fundraising events.
• Strengthen relationships with existing sponsors.
• Recruit & Train New Members 👥
• Hold recruitment events to bring in new students.
• Train newcomers on building, programming, and strategy.
• Develop leadership roles for the upcoming season.
• Compete in Off-Season Events 🏆
• Participate in off-season tournaments or scrimmages.
• Join summer robotics camps.
• Collaborate with other teams for friendly competitions.
• Stay Connected & Have Fun 🎉
• Host team bonding events like game nights or outings.
• Keep up with FTC news, rule updates, and community discussions.
• Maintain social media presence and share your team’s journey.

Taking advantage of the off-season

will set your team up for success next year! 🚀🔥

FIRST Inspires Resources

• ftc.game - Links to the game and season info page

• https://ftc-resources.firstinspires.org/file/ftc/game/manual - Link to latest version of the Competition Manual

• https://ftc-resources.firstinspires.org/file/ftc/game/tu-combined-Link to the relevant team update

• ftc.events - links to ftc-events.firstinspires.org which contains season results



• Starter Bot Guides from various vendors

Outreach Opportunities

FIRST Chesapeake is looking for a few teams to help with some amazing outreach this season.

1. Championship Demonstration

As our FLL students age out of the FLL program, we want them to know what FTC is all about! We would love a few teams to attend:

• VA FLL Championship on December 8, 2024
• MD FLL Championship on February 22, 2025
• FRC Championship on April 4-6, 2025

Teams selected will demonstrate what an FTC robot can do and illustrate for students the excitement our program brings as a continuation of what they started in FLL.

2.Geared Up Celebration at VSU on May 10th in Petersburg, VA

We have 16 new teams this season that are part of our Geared Up Mentor Program. These teams will celebrate all that they have learned this year at a mock competition with opportunities to meet veteran teams and learn from their experience.

If your team is interested in either of these opportunities, please email Shelly and share the following:

1. Which opportunity(ies) your team is interested in
2. Your team number and location
3. Answer the question "What makes your team a good ambassador for FTC?"

Stay Connected!

Office Hours

Sign up and stop by for my office hours on Wednesdays between 4-6pm and Fridays from 11am-1pm.

Slack

Virtual Suggestion Box

Do you have an idea or suggestion that might help us improve?

Thanks,

Shelly Stoddard

sstoddard@firstchesapeake.org

Thank you to our generous sponsors!