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FLL UNEARTHED Blog: Volume 3

by | Aug 12, 2025 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore

In this weeks Blog-

Registration info!

Make sure you read the entire blog!

Season Info

Registration Info!

Reminder- Registration in Washington is a 2 step process!

1. Register your team with FIRST Inspires (Team registration fee, Challenge set, Robot- if needed)

Right now we only have 245 Challenge teams registered and paid with FIRST Inspires. 

2. Register your team with FIRST Washington (Event participation fee- $350)

Right now we only have 80 Challenge teams registered with FIRST Washington. 

Only 55 Challenge teams have completed both registrations! 

Both of these registrations are required to participate in Washington for both Explore and Challenge.

Registration and information-

Challenge– https://firstwa.org/challenge-registration/

Explore– https://firstwa.org/explore-registration/

Registration for Events

Registration for events this season, as of right now, will be the same as last year. 

Teams for FLL Challenge, once fully registered and paid, will be assigned to an event locally (within 50 miles) to their team. Teams will then have the ability to opt out and go on a waitlist for a different event or a different day. This is handled on a first come first serve basis, and only as space is available. 

Teams for FLL Explore, once fully registered and paid, will fill out a registration form for their top 2 choices and will be assigned to hopefully their first choice as long as their is space available. 

This process will not begin until the fall when all venues are confirmed. For FLL Challenge the weekends for the Qualifiers are the first 2 in December. For FLL Explore, usually we have events those first two weekends, but I don’t have hosts yet. 

Thanks for your patience! 

 

Important Dates & Deadlines

  • Open Now – FIRST Washington Registration
  • August 5th – FLL Challenge Released 

More From FLL

FLL UNEARTHED Blog: Volume 2

by | Aug 7, 2025 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore, Newsletter

In this weeks Blog-

Season Launch! 

Registration

Make sure you read the entire blog!

Season Info

Welcome to UNEARTHED!

This week was the season launch! Did everyone tune in?

Who’s excited? I know I am! 

I can’t wait to see what all the teams do this season! 

 

Field Set Up Video

Robot Game Mission Video

Explore Set Video

 

Registration!

Reminder- Registration in Washington is a 2 step process!

1. Register your team with FIRST Inspires (Team registration fee, Challenge set, Robot- if needed)

2. Register your team with FIRST Washington (Event participation fee- $350)

Both of these registrations are required to participate in Washington for both Explore and Challenge. 

Registration and information- 

Challenge– https://firstwa.org/challenge-registration/ 

Explore– https://firstwa.org/explore-registration/ 

Last Call!– FLL Coaches Chat Format Survey!

Last chance to fill out the survey on the coaches chat and what format you like!  Please fill out the following 3 question survey to let me know your thoughts! I am doing this to try and better serve coaches like you! Thanks for all of your help!

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/dcfe720351d946b590dcfc8bd3d268c6

 

Important Dates & Deadlines

  • Open Now – FIRST Washington Registration
  • August 5th – FLL Challenge Released 

More From FLL

FLL UNEARTHED Blog: Volume 1

by | Jul 8, 2025 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore, Newsletter

In this weeks Blog-

Job Opportunities 

FIRST Washington Registration

Coaches Chat Survey

Make sure you read the entire blog!

Season Info
Job Opportunities with FIRST Washington
We have 3 new job listings with FIRST Washington:
  • Event Manager
  • Volunteer Manager
  • Marketing and Communications Manager
If you are interested in joining our amazing team, click here to access the job postings and apply!  Feel free to share this information with anyone in your network who might be interested in working for FIRST Washington.

FIRST Washington Registration is open!

FIRST Washington registration is now open.  Please take a moment to register if your team plans to participate this year.

This form also gives you access to the FIRST Washington Registration grants that are used to lower your registration.

Registration form link: 

Challenge– https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/c5f3e7b49ea6400b823696be6b954a59

Explore– https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d11d85351cff4889b0cf634d0e0a6018 

FLL Coaches Chat Format Survey!

This season I am considering switching up the format of the FLL coaches chat. Please fill out the following 3 question survey to let me know your thoughts on the format going forward! I am doing this to try and better serve coaches like you! Thanks for all of your help!

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/dcfe720351d946b590dcfc8bd3d268c6 

 

Important Dates & Deadlines

  • Open Now – FIRST Washington Registration
  • August 5th – FLL Challenge Released 

More From FLL

FLL SUBMERGED Blog: Volume 22

by | Jun 16, 2025 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore

In this weeks Blog-

 

Summer Contact info! 

Make sure you read the entire blog!

Season Info

Summer Coach Contact Information- 

Please make sure we have an email address that you will be checking over the summer, we want to make sure you receive any important communications that we send out!

 

Update Email

More From FLL

FLL SUBMERGED Blog: Volume 21

by | Jun 12, 2025 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore

In this weeks Blog-

Summer Opportunities!

PEMCO + Seahawks Summer Reading Challenge

BrickCon 2025

UNEARTHED Reveal!

Make sure you read the entire blog!

Season Info

Calling all Junior 12s, Parents, and Teachers: Summer Reading is BACK!
Register your child for our Summer Reading Challenge for the chance to win exciting prizes – including a school visit from Blitz, Seahawks merchandise, and recognition at a Seahawks Game! Reading is essential all year-round, but now’s your chance to score some extra perks this summer for getting those minutes in. Don’t miss out – sign up today!
Register Today

BrickCon 2025 will be at the Meydenbauer Center September 6th & 7th

Discount code for FIRST participants, get $3.00 off up to 2 tickets with code: BrickCon4First

Tickets are on sale now at www.brickcon.com

**Due to an overwhelming amount of interest, entrance tickets are set for 2-hour time blocks. Get yours today to secure your entrance to accommodate your schedule with more than enough time to explore the event.

Check out the UNEARTHED reveal for next season! 

Team registration for the 25-26 FLL season is open now! The Challenge will be released on August 5th!

 

More From FLL

FLL Blog: OSPI Update

by | May 20, 2025 | FLL, FLL Challenge

2025 – 2026 OSPI FIRST Washington Grant Update

Action Requested:  After reading the note below, please take a moment to complete this very short [survey] by Friday, May 23 to help us understand the impact of the funding loss—and whether you may need support or be able to offer assistance to others.

 

Hello Teams,

 Thank you to everyone who reached out to your State Senators and Congress Members, advocating for continued OSPI funding in the new State Budget. Your efforts are deeply appreciated.

Unfortunately, the current budget being reviewed at the Governor’s office includes no OSPI funding for Teams this upcoming season- meaning that the $1.475 million dollars from OSPI distributed to FIRST Washington teams and events last year is not available for the upcoming season.

That’s the tough news- but definitely not the end of the story.

 

Leadership at FIRST Washington is committed to the following:

  • Maintaining the number of students/teams who engage and participate in the FIRST Washington community and the competitive events hosted during the season- last season this was 10,500 students
  • Maintaining the excellent customer experience levels for Students, Teams, Coaches, Mentors, and Volunteers
  • Identifying what can be done in the short term to replace the OSPI funding 

 

We are currently assessing all available assets and cost saving measures and have also developed a robust fund-raising strategy for our upcoming Fiscal Year and season.

 Ensuring Teams have the resources needed for another successful season will require an all-hands effort and partnership with the entire FIRST Community- Volunteers, Mentors, Coaches, Schools, Corporate Donors, Foundations, and Individual Donors.

 

Here are a few next steps:

  1. Let us know if the loss of OSPI funding may prevent your school from participating in FIRST programs next year thorough the survey link above.
  2. Start planning and budgeting now for the 2025–2026 season – explore creative fundraising opportunities over the summer and identify any alternative funding that may be available within your school district- if applicable.
  3. Begin brainstorming ways our community can support one another—sharing fundraising strategies, offering mentorship, or other collaborative efforts.

 

We are reaching out not only to public school teams, but also to our community-based teams. Your experiences with self-funding and community support may offer valuable insights for school-based teams facing these new challenges.

We’ll continue to communicate in the coming weeks as we look for ways to move forward together. We are incredibly grateful to be part of such a dedicated and resilient community.

 

Thank you for all you do,

 Adrienne Collins,

Director of Programs, FIRST Washington