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FRC REBUILT Blog: Volume 34

by | Jun 23, 2026 | FRC, Newsletter

Off-Season Events

Looking for a fun way to have new members experience an event, try out a new mechanism, or network with other teams? Register to attend an off-season event this fall! 

Off-season events are hosted and run by individual FRC teams, not FIRST Washington. This means each event’s participation requirement(s), fees, and timelines may vary. All events will utilize the REBUILT game. 

 

Block Party 2026

Dates: October 24&25, 2026

Location: Mill Creek, WA

Fee: $400 (additional $200 for a second robot if space permits)

Registration form link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEjNEGbH2Q2EMxiN12G6pm58ZHJZtVGn96MNZ0ngSekZQUtA/viewform

For questions, contact Steve Kaneb at steve.kaneb@gmail.com

Washington Girls Generation

Girls’ Generation will be held on Oct 17th and 18th at Tahoma High School.

More information on the Tahoma Robotics website https://tahomarobotics.org/2025-wa-girls-generation 

Oregon Girls Generation and FIRST Chance

Registration for Girls Gen and FIRST Chance

Both events are relaxed, welcoming, and focused on building experience, community, and excitement for the season ahead. Whether you’re mentoring rookies, building leadership, or just eager to get back on the field—don’t miss these chances to grow.

Please register soon and let us know your team will attend! We need to confirm there are enough teams, and early registration helps volunteers planning both events. Use this link to register. 

    • Wilsonville HS, 6800 SW Wilsonville Rd

    • Girls Generation: This event gives underrepresented team members the chance to drive the robot and/or lead the pit crew, and gain confidence in competition roles – many for the first time. Contact us if your team would like to participate but you don’t have enough girls or non-binary students for a drive team. 

      • Sat, Oct 3

      • Registration fee is $100. 

    • FIRST Chance: Your team’s chance to test, train, and learn! A competition for all team members to gain experience in new competition roles, especially students who are new to FRC. 

      • Sun, Oct 4

      • Registration fee is $200 (lower fee this year!) 

    • Link  to Register for both events. 

Both Girls Generation and FIRST Chance will use last season’s REBUILT field, giving teams a great opportunity to build on what they’ve already learned or try out new strategies in a familiar setting.

Please contact ORTOP if you have questions about registration, including fees, bringing a second robot or attendance at Girls Gen. We want to reduce barriers to participation and will work with your team to help you attend if cost or team member availability are barriers.

Bordie Through Time

October 9th-10th

Storm Surge

September 26th-27th

Important Dates

     

    FRC REBUILT Blog: Volume 33

    by | Jun 16, 2026 | FRC, Newsletter

    Boeing Family Days

    Boeing Renton – 737 Production – Will be hosting a Family Day event on Sunday, August 30th.  We are looking for a few FRC & FTC teams to come out and show off the cool things you do.  Ideally we would like 2-3 teams to come set up with their Robots & Practice field equipment.  Added bonus if teams have interactive activities for families and children.  Teams should plan for an all-day event with Hot Dog Lunch.  We anticipate several thousand people and teams are welcome to advertise any of their events, fall camps, needs for mentors etc.

    Myra Acosta – our host has offered to take small groups on a factory tours throughout the day, and it sounds like there might be a P-8 airplane available to tour as well.

    If your team is interested in participating – please reach out to Myra Acosta (Myra.C.Acosta@Boeing.com) by Friday 6/19 with contact information to be able to reach you during the summer.  We will need to coordinate tent, safety and access requirements.”

    Thank you for your help!

     


    Seattle Pride Parade

    *LAST WEEK TO SIGN UP*
    MI Robotics is happy to host the Students of FIRST Washington contingent of the Seattle Pride Parade 2026! Detailed marching information still to come. Sign-up via this form or use the QR code below. Please reach out to Alida at alida.m.mendes@gmail.com with any questions.
    All FTC and FRC teams are welcome. We hope to see you there!


    Important Dates

       

      FRC REBUILT Blog: Volume 32

      by | Jun 11, 2026 | FRC, Newsletter

      This post contains lots of information, please read the entire thing. 

       


      Hello FIRST Washington Robotics Teams!

      What an incredible FIRST AGE season!

      As another chapter closes and we head into summer, FIRST Washington is preparing for the upcoming CANOPY season. We are also finalizing our budget for the next fiscal year starting July 1, 2026, and wanted to share some important updates.

      As many of you are experiencing, funding continues to be a major pressure point for programs like FIRST Robotics. Last season, FIRST Washington was able to support our community by granting nearly $1.4 million in discounts and team support funding.

      When planning last season’s budget, we were optimistic we could replenish those reserves through foundation grants, renewal of OSPI, individual donors, and increased corporate support.  To that end we set a large fundraising goal of over $1.5 million for the year.

      Unfortunately, our success in securing replacement funding fell short by around $700,000. We were unable to secure all the grants we needed, and the State Budget did not restore any funding for FIRST Washington this year.

      We have adjusted our fundraising strategy moving forward and are continuing to work as hard as we can to fill this funding gap.

      At this time though, we are unable to guarantee registration discounts that teams have become accustomed to over the years.

      From now until the start of the next season, we are asking your Teams to work in direct partnership with us to ensure the FIRST Washington ecosystem of nearly 1,000 total teams have the resources and support needed for another successful season for all our FLL, FTC, and FRC programs in the Pacific Northwest.

      What we need you to do:

      1. Develop a fundraising plan for the summer and fall that includes the payment of full registration fees for the upcoming season
      2. Work in partnership with FIRST WA Development and Volunteer management staff to engage new mentors and volunteers to support your team- both with time and matching funds from their companies

      What FIRST Washington will do:

      1. Host fundraising strategy sessions and office hours for coaches, mentors, and business managers in July and August
      2. Provide clean fundraising collateral for teams to use
      3. Work directly with companies who currently provide volunteers and mentors with matching funds available to set new engagement goals – ultimately increasing the number of volunteers and mentors on each team whose participation hours are matched with cash from their employer
      4. Activate a team support funding campaign, in addition to our standard fundraising goals for operations, with a target goal of $500K to allocate out to teams on an “as needed for sustainability and stability” basis
      5. Every challenge is a turning point. Every turning point is an opportunity.

      In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity- Albert Einstein

      Working together, we can stabilize funding for the FIRST WA ecosystem over the next two to three years- getting us all to a place where the question isn’t “how do we fund this?” but instead “what do we fund next that makes the student experience even better?”

      We know this represents a shift, and we are committed to working alongside you through it. Our focus remains the same: ensuring that every team has a path forward and that our community continues to grow and succeed. Thank you for your continued dedication, resilience, and partnership—we will navigate this next season together.

       

      Regards,

      Fred

      Fred Krug

      President

      FIRST Washington

      Seattle Pride Parade

      MI Robotics is happy to host the Students of FIRST Washington contingent of the Seattle Pride Parade 2026! Detailed marching information to come in June. Sign-up via this form or use the QR code below. Please reach out to Alida at alida.m.mendes@gmail.com with any questions. We hope to see you there!


      Off-Season Events

      Looking for a fun way to have new members experience an event, try out a new mechanism, or network with other teams? Register to attend an off-season event this fall! 

      Off-season events are hosted and run by individual FRC teams, not FIRST Washington. This means each event’s participation requirement(s), fees, and timelines may vary. All events will utilize the REBUILT game. 

       

      Block Party 2026

      Dates: October 24&25, 2026

      Location: Mill Creek, WA

      Fee: $400 (additional $200 for a second robot if space permits)

      Registration form link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEjNEGbH2Q2EMxiN12G6pm58ZHJZtVGn96MNZ0ngSekZQUtA/viewform

      For questions, contact Steve Kaneb at steve.kaneb@gmail.com

      Washington Girls Generation

      Girls’ Generation will be held on Oct 17th and 18th at Tahoma High School.

      More information on the Tahoma Robotics website https://tahomarobotics.org/2025-wa-girls-generation 

      Oregon Girls Generation and FIRST Chance

      Girls Gen- October 3rd

      FIRST Chance- October 4th

      Bordie Through Time

      October 9th-10th

      Storm Surge

      September 26th-27th

      Important Dates

         

        FRC REBUILT Blog: Volume 30

        by | May 26, 2026 | FRC, Newsletter

        PNW Social & Potluck 

        PNW FRC Coaches and Mentors, 

        You and the mentors on your team are invited to attend the PNW FRC Mentor Social & Potluck on Saturday, August 15, beginning at 1:00 PM at the FIRSTWA Fieldhouse in Kent (22426 72nd Ave S, Kent, WA 98032). 

        During the build season, it’s easy for teams and mentors to become somewhat siloed, and competitions don’t always provide the best opportunity to make meaningful connections. My hope is that this gathering will offer a relaxed environment for mentors and coaches to connect with others who share a passion for FIRST Robotics. 

        If you plan to attend, please sign up using this Google form. 

        For the potluck, please consider bringing an item based on the first letter of your last name: 

        • Appetizer or Snack: A–N
        • Dessert: O–Z

        Don’t hesitate to attend even if you’re unable to bring something. 

        Please share this invitation with the mentors on your FRC team. Water and soda will be provided, and attendees are welcome to bring their preferred alcoholic beverages as well. A few large ice coolers will be available. Because alcohol will be present, this event is limited to mentors and coaches who are 21 years of age or older. 

        There is interest in reviving the mentor roundtables that were last held in 2019. We will take a few minutes during the social to discuss ideas and begin planning for future mentor roundtable events. 

        If you have any suggestions or questions, feel free to reach out to me. 

        Regards, 

        Darren Collins 
        FRC 2046 
        Cell: 206-854-0630 

        Alberta KDays FRC Off-season event 

        Howdy teams from your northern western neighbours in Canada! 

         With the 2026 season now mostly being all wrapped up, I’d like to delay the wrap up of the season just a bit more to invite ya’ll to come out to our KDays off-season event, in Edmonton, Alberta from July 17th to the 19th! 

        A Quick summary of the event 

        KDays is a 10 day long festival in Edmonton Alberta. With live music, many amusement rides, and some very interesting snack selections, it’s a fun time for all who attend! 

        Our off-season event happens on the grounds for the public to bear witness to our metal masterpieces! With a full field provided by FIRST Canada we’re expecting to show all who come out a good time!  

         Alongside our 2 day FRC event, we will be running an FLL event as well! So it’ll be back to back robotics action! 

         Robot registration – Now open! 

        Registration is open now. $750 per team. If you’re a larger organization wanting to bring out multiple robots, additional robots will be $250. Mentorbot, or rookie bot, we’ll be happy to have ya! If we hit 16 registered orgs an event limited shirt will be made to commemorate the occasion! 

         Registration can be found here: 

        FIRST Robotics Competition – FIRST Alberta @ KDays 

         Volunteers – Always needed 

        Volunteers are always needed so if you know anyone that would be interested, please have them email me with a position they would like to fill! 

         If you have any questions, my inbox is always open (and yes, regional directors dream of answering emails) 

         Hope to see ya’ll there! 

         

        Aaron Williams 

        FIRST Robotics Competition Program Director (in-training) 

        FIRST Robotics Competition Team 3560 Alum 

         

        Important Dates

           

          FRC REBUILT Blog: Volume 29

          by | May 12, 2026 | FRC, Newsletter

          Congratulations to all on an amazing season! 

          I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate all teams on a phenomenal season!  This was a fun game to watch and also (in my opinion) a hard challenge for teams.   

          I love the comradery we have in the PNW and I’m always reminded of just how unique that is when I head to Houston for championships.  We not only produce competitive teams in the PNW; we also produce gracious, kind, helpful teams as well as dedicated amazing volunteers.   

          It takes a village to inspire the next generation of STEM Leaders and innovators, and I’m glad you are all part of my village! 

          Seattle Pride Parade

          MI Robotics is happy to host the Students of FIRST Washington contingent of the Seattle Pride Parade 2026! See below for sign-up information. Detailed marching information to come in June. Please reach out to Alida at alida.m.mendes@gmail.com for any questions. We hope to see you there!


          Important Dates