First Coaches Chat of the season is scheduled for 7 pm September 24

That is the day that event preferencing opens up for teams.  We will be walking through event preferencing, and take a high level look at the season.  Make sure to have one coach attend.  Click here to attend the meeting. 

Boeing Team Grants opened this week

You can find more information on the firstinspires website here:  https://www.firstinspires.org/programs/team-grant-opportunities  Be sure to check it regularly for new team grant opportunities. 

If you have a Boeing mentor, reach out to them to ensure that they apply asap.  Funds will be available until they run out. 

Calling all teams

Does your team have footage of outreach events, community service, or behind-the-scenes moments from this season? Send it our way. Email Rylie Pope, Marketing and Communications Manager at FIRST WA, at ryliep@firstwa.org by 8/28/2026. 

Important Dates

Now: FIRST Washington Registration is Open 

9-24: Coaches Chat 

9-26 & 27: Storm Surge 

10-3: OR Girls Gen 

10-4: FIRST Chance 

10-10 & 11: Bordie Blast Through Time 

10-17 & 18: WA Girls Gen 

10-25 & 26: Block Party 

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.  

Storm Surge 

Dates: September 26 – 27 

Location:  Vancouver, WA 

Come join Skyview Robotics for StormSurge on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, 2026 at Skyview High School in Vancouver, WA. Yes, you read that correctly, this year StormSurge will be a two-day tournament! This will be an off-Season Rebuilt event with the official field. If you have any questions, please contact Luke Glassett at lucas.glassett@vansd.org or 360-921-2747. If emailing, please also CC gary.borghello@vansd.org. 

Click here to register 

Oregon Girls Generation and FIRST Chance 

Dates:   

Girls Gen October 3 

FIRST Chance October 4 

Location:  Wilsonville, OR 

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 

Dates:  October 9 – 10 

Location:  Bellevue, WA 

We are excited to announce that the 6th annual Bordie Blast – Bordie Through Time is open for Registration! Join us for an action-packed weekend on October 10-11, 2026 (with setup and optional load-in on the 9th). 

Event Details: 

• • Dates: October 10-11, 2026 

• • Location: Sammamish High School, Bellevue, WA 

• • Registration Fee: $300 

• • Registration: Register Here  

• • Volunteer Sign-Up: Volunteer Here 

Washington Girls Generation 

Dates:  October 17 – 18 

Location:  Maple Valley, WA

Bear Metal is excited to announce team registration for the 2026 Washington Girls’ Generation event is now open! The event will take place at Tahoma High School on October 17th and 18th, with optional load-in on the 16th. The cost to register is $300 per team. All information can be found at: https://tahomarobotics.org/2026-wa-girls-generation The link to sign up is: https://forms.gle/9emMHqhDjRZPmLac6. All spectators are welcome and we hope to see you there! 

Block Party 2026 

Dates: October 24&25, 2026 

Location: Mill Creek, WA 

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

Team Registration form  

Volunteer Registration form 

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

Important Dates

Now:   FIRST Washington Registration is Open 

9-26 & 27: Storm Surge 

10-3: OR Girls Gen 

10-4: FIRST Chance 

10-10 & 11: Bordie Blast Through Time 

10-17 & 18: WA Girls Gen 

10-25 & 26: Block Party 

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 

Upcoming Grants to Apply For 

FIRSTGrants | Find Funding for FIRST Robotics Teams  (Not the official firstinspires page, hosted by an FRC team) 

FIRST is currently accepting applications for several sponsor-funded grants. The most active right now are: 

• BAE Systems FRC Grants (application closes Sept. 13, 2026) 

• Boston Scientific FRC Grants (closes Sept. 30, 2026, location restrictions apply)
  Check the FIRST grant portal regularly because new sponsor grants are added throughout the season. 

• Boeing FIRST Team Grants Boeing continues to fund FIRST teams through the national FIRST grant system. Washington teams have historically been strong candidates because of Boeing’s large regional presence. Applications are managed through FIRST’s grant portal 

• Department of Defense STEM (DoD STEM) Robotics Grants These grants support FIRST teams, particularly: Rookie teams and Military-connected schools or teams serving military families.
  A second-round funding cycle is expected in September, making this one of the best near-term opportunities. 

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES 

• Local Education Foundations  

Many school districts have foundations that fund STEM, CTE, robotics, and enrichment activities. Washington has dozens of active education foundations that award grants annually. Examples include Bellevue Schools Foundation, Lake Washington Schools Foundation, Issaquah Schools Foundation, Highline Schools Foundation, Tacoma Community Foundation programs, and many others.  

Typical award: $500 to $10,000
Timeline: Many fall application cycles open Aug-Oct. 

• Community Foundations 

County and regional community foundations frequently fund youth STEM programs, especially teams serving underrepresented students. Examples include Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and local county foundations throughout Washington.  

Typical award: $1,000 to $25,000+ 

Be sure to regularly check the official firstinspires site for new grants that pop up! https://www.firstinspires.org/programs/team-grant-opportunities  

For more ideas, collateral materials, templates and to view our fundraising teams meetings, go to:  https://firstwa.org/fundraising/  

For questions on fundraising and grants, contact Lila Cohen lilam@firstwa.org  

Important Dates

Now:   FIRST Washington Registration is Open 

8-15: PNW FRC Mentor Social & Potluck 

9-26 & 27: Storm Surge 

10-3: OR Girls Gen 

10-4: FIRST Chance 

10-10 & 11: Bordie Blast Through Time 

10-17 & 18: WA Girls Gen 

10-25 & 26: Block Party