Ne First

First robotics competition ("frc")- working with mentors, teams of students build robots from kits of common parts, designed to meet a challenge. The students compete for awards for game scores, safety practices, teamwork and other qualitative achievements, stressing the values of cooperation and inclusion. Award winning teams participate in the annual championship event of the foundation for the inspiration and recognition of science and technology (f.i.r.s.t.First.r.s.t.) The frc program provides students with the experience of applying science and technology to achieve a specific challenge under a time constraint. This experience develops students' technical skills, teamwork and the ability to deal with the satisfactions and disappointments of a real engineering project.

First tech challenge ("ftc")- like the frc program, teams in the ftc program design and build robots with smaller kits and simpler game challenges. This program is readily accessible to a broader audience of educators and students, in part because of its lower cost. The ftc experience simulates the excitement as well as the pressure of a real-life engineering project. Developing not only the students' technical know-how, but also leadership, cooperation, ability to plan, patience and teamwork. Ftc enriches the participating students' ability to deal with satisfactions and disappointments on a real engineering project. The ftc experience expands students interest in science, technology, engineering, math and inspires many to go on to higher education.

FIRST LEGO LEAGUE ("FLL")- TEAMS WORK ON GAME CHALLENGES USING LEGO TECHNOLOGY, APPLYING SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING TO MASTER COMPLEX MISSIONS. TEAMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD MEET EVERY YEAR FOR THE FLL WORLD FESTIVAL COMPETITION AND CELEBRATION. PARTICIPATION IN FLL ENGAGES STUDENTS IN A COMPREHENSIVE EXPERIENCE DEVELOPING CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO ADDRESS SERIOUS ISSUES, ENHANCING THEIR EDUCATION IN SCIENCE AND MATH, EXPOSING THEM TO A STEM CAREER. BY PROGRESSING THROUGH EACH PROGRAM AND ULTIMATELY TO FRC, STUDENTS GAIN A FULL SUIE OF TECHNICAL SKILLS AND ONGOING ENCOURAGEMENT, MAKING IT MORE LIKELY THAT THEY WILL PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. THE PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO INCLUDE Pre-K THROUGH 8th GRADE AGE RANGES: FLL DISCOVER/EXPLORE/CHALLENGE.

Other programs - new england First stages science and technology-related after school programs, robotics contests, professional development, and community volunteer opportunities across the entire new england district. New england First staff and the new england First volunteer community provide summer camp and workshop experiences in every state along with seminars, training sessions, webinars and career and workforce seminars. Specific grant-makers that new england First robotics assisted with include: mass. State legislature, Vermont agency of educ., and the Massachusetts exec. Office of educ.