Donate

FLL UNEARTHED Blog: Volume 7

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

In this weeks Blog-

Registration info!

Invoices

Are you Registered?

Reminder From Finance

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 584 Challenge teams registered and paid with FIRST Inspires.

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

Right now we only have 479 Challenge teams registered with FIRST Washington.

458 Challenge teams have completed both registrations! You guys are doing great! 

Both of these registrations are required to participate in Washington for both Explore and Challenge. If you plan to participate in FLL Challenge events this season, please make sure both of these registrations are completed asap! 

Registration and information-

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

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

 

Are you registered?

Check the links below to verify your teams registrations and payments! 

FLL Challenge?

↓↓↓↓↓↓

Click Here to Check!

FLL Explore?

↓↓↓↓↓↓

Click Here to Check!

Invoices

Invoices for the FIRST Washington FLL Challenge ($350) and FLL Explore ($50) have started to go out.

The first round of FLL Challenge invoices went out on Friday, the first round of FLL Explore invoices should go out this week.

They will be emailed out to the person you listed on your FIRST Washington registration under “person who should receive FIRST Washington invoice”

Invoices are sent out once a week, and payments are updated daily. Check the link above to see your teams status. We have also included the date your invoices were sent- if you are unable to find it and you have a date it was sent, please check any spam or junk folders for an email from ‘accounting@firstwa.org’

Thanks for your patience!

A Reminder From the Finance Department :

Please make sure your team number is clearly included on ALL donations sent on behalf of your team. This includes checks, volunteer matches, and ACH deposits.

If for any reason a team number cannot be included, it’s essential that you communicate directly with the Finance Department to ensure proper allocation.(accounting@firstwa.org)

⚠️ Without a team number, we cannot guarantee that funds will be credited to your team’s booster account.

Thank you for helping us keep everything organized and accurate!

Important Dates & Deadlines

  • Open Now – FIRST Washington Registration
  • 10/3 – Invoices begin go out
  • December 6/7 – First weekend of Qualifiers
  • December 13/14 – Second weekend of Qualifiers
  • January 24/25 – Semifinals
  • February  1st – Western WA State

More From FLL

FLL UNEARTHED Blog: Volume 6

by | Sep 30, 2025 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore, Newsletter

In this weeks Blog-

Registration info!

Invoices

Event Info

Coaches Chat Recording

Make sure you read the entire blog!

Season Info

Registration Info!- closes end of September!

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 522 as of 9/24 Challenge teams registered and paid with FIRST Inspires.

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

Right now we only have 389 Challenge teams registered with FIRST Washington.

Only 351 Challenge teams have completed both registrations! That means only 351 teams are ready to attend an event this season! Last season we had 482 that participated!

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

Registration and information-

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

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

 

Are you registered?

If you have recently registered with FIRST Inspires (after 9/24) this will not reflect that. FIRST Inspires report we use to verify registration has been down since 9/24. They hope to have it fixed soon! 

FLL Challenge?

↓↓↓↓↓↓

Click Here to Check!

FLL Explore?

↓↓↓↓↓↓

Click Here to Check!

Invoices

Invoices for the FIRST Washington FLL Challenge ($350) and FLL Explore ($50) fees go out in early October. They will be emailed out to the person you listed on your FIRST Washington registration under “person who should receive FIRST Washington invoice”

Thanks for your patience!

Event Info

FLL Challenge- 

Overview-

  • Teams are assigned events based on location.
  • Once a team has paid their FIRST Washington fee and they have been assigned an event, if they would like to change events there will be an opt out form to fill out to request another event.
  • Teams will then be placed on a waitlist and moved into that event after all teams have been placed or after a certain date, whichever comes first, if there is still space.
  • If there is not space in the event they chose, they may move back into their original event, space permitting, or be assigned to an event with available space.

 

Challenge Registration- Details- Make sure you read!

  • Teams will no longer be filling out a registration survey- YAY
  • Teams will still need to be paid to see their placement- invoices will go out soon to those that filled out the FIRST Washington registration. If you did not fill it out, you will not receive an invoice and will not be placed or able to participate until you do.
  • Teams will be assigned a home venue/event that is within 50 miles
  • The 50 miles is point to point distance, not driving distance
  • This is based on Venue Zipcode and Team Zipcode
  • Teams have the ability to opt out of their home event using the opt out form and go on a waitlist. Teams may only ask to opt out by filling out the form- no email communication will be accepted.
  • Waitlist teams are not guaranteed a spot in the event they choose, or a spot in the event they opted out of.
  • Waitlist teams are placed on a first come first served basis in the event they choose if there is available space, and will be notified after the placement window closes if there is space in the event they chose.
  • If there is not space- they can move back to their home event, space permitting, or move into an event with available space, but there is no guarantee an event with available space will be within 50 miles
  • Teams requesting to change the day of the week only and not the venue they are competing at will have a seperate form to fill out. Make sure you pay attention to which form you need! 

FLL Explore- 

Overview-

  • Teams fill out an event registration form
  • You can choose 2 event preferences from a list. Please make sure both locations and dates work for you! 
  • Once teams have-
    • Registered with FIRST
    • Registered with FIRST Washington
    • Paid the FIRST Washington invoice ($50)
    • Filled out the event registration
  • Teams will be placed in one of their 2 event preferences.
  • Events are in December and March, teams may choose 1.

Event Venues

I am still in the process of getting all the event venues secured. As soon as I have a schedule I will get it out to you all! 

FLL Coaches Chat

To view the recording and slides from last weeks coaches chat click here

Important Dates & Deadlines

  • Open Now – FIRST Washington Registration
  • Early October – Invoices go out
  • December 6/7 – First weekend of Qualifiers
  • December 13/14 – Second weekend of Qualifiers
  • January 24/25 – Semifinals
  • February  1st – Western WA State

More From FLL

FLL UNEARTHED Blog: Volume 5

by | Sep 23, 2025 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore, Newsletter

In this weeks Blog-

Coaches Chat

Invoices

Registration info!

Make sure you read the entire blog!

Season Info

FLL Coaches Chat

Our first FLL Coaches Chat of the season is tonight at 7pm!

Hope to see you all there!

We will be focusing primarily on FLL Challenge, but will have some Explore info as well!

To view the recording and slides from the coaches chat click here

Registration Info!- closes end of September!

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 506 Challenge teams registered and paid with FIRST Inspires.

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

Right now we only have 278 Challenge teams registered with FIRST Washington.

Only 256 Challenge teams have completed both registrations! That means only 256 teams are ready to attend an event this season!

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

Registration and information-

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

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

 

If you are interested in a FIRST Washington grant- this grant closes September 26th. Make sure you fill out the FIRST Washington registration before that date!

Are you registered?

FLL Challenge?

↓↓↓↓↓↓

Click Here to Check!

FLL Explore?

↓↓↓↓↓↓

Click Here to Check!

Invoices

Invoices for the FIRST Washington FLL Challenge ($350) and FLL Explore ($50) fees go out in early October.

Thanks for your patience!

Important Dates & Deadlines

  • Open Now – FIRST Washington Registration
  • September 23rd – Coaches Chat
  • September 26th – FIRST Washington Grant closes
  • Early October – Invoices go out
  • December 6/7 – First weekend of Qualifiers
  • December 13/14 – Second weekend of Qualifiers
  • January 24/25 – Semifinals
  • February  1st – Western WA State

More From FLL

FLL UNEARTHED Blog: Volume 4

by | Sep 16, 2025 | FLL, FLL Challenge, FLL Explore, Newsletter

In this weeks Blog-

Coaches Chat

Invoices

Registration info!

Make sure you read the entire blog!

Season Info

Registration Info!- closes end of September!

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 482 Challenge teams registered and paid with FIRST Inspires.

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

Right now we only have 191 Challenge teams registered with FIRST Washington.

Only 127 Challenge teams have completed both registrations! That means only 127 teams are ready to attend an event this season!

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/

 

If you are interested in a FIRST Washington grant- this grant closes September 26th. Make sure you fill out the FIRST Washington registration before that date!

Are you registered?

FLL Challenge?

↓↓↓↓↓↓

Click Here to Check!

FLL Explore?

↓↓↓↓↓↓

Coming Soon!

Invoices

Invoices for the FIRST Washington FLL Challenge ($350) and FLL Explore ($50) fees go out in early October.

Thanks for your patience!

FLL Coaches Chat

Our first FLL Coaches Chat was originally scheduled for this evening. With having been on vacation last week, I am not ready! I am moving it to next Tuesday, September 23rd at 7pm!

Hopefully by then I will also have all the event locations confirmed as well!

Important Dates & Deadlines

  • Open Now – FIRST Washington Registration
  • September 23rd – Coaches Chat
  • September 26th – FIRST Washington Grant closes
  • Early October – Invoices go out
  • December 6/7 – First weekend of Qualifiers
  • December 13/14 – Second weekend of Qualifiers
  • January 24/25 – Semifinals
  • February  1st – Western WA State

More From FLL

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