FRC BIOCORE Blog: Volume 7

FIRST Washington Grant will open next week 

  

FIRST Washington Grants will open next Monday, 9-14.  You can find past communications regarding funding and the link to the grant application here:  https://firstwa.org/firstwa-grant/   

 Remember: 

  • You will have to fill out a grant application to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington manages 
  • The grant form will need to be filled out for each team you would like to be considered for funding 
  • Grants will no longer be deducted from your FIRST Washington registration, they will be issued separately based on the info you submit in the grant application as well as your school requirements (if you are a school based team) 

Off-Season Events 

If you are planning to attend an off season event this fall, please register ASAP! 

 

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 – Cancelled 

Dates: September 26 – 27 

Location:  Vancouver, WA 

 

 

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!)  

 

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 

 

 

 

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! 

  

Volunteer call for Girls Gen: 

When our team held its first Washington Girls’ Generation competition in the Fall of 2012, we used the event to help train key volunteers for the transition to the FRC District model. By the time, the PNW switched to the district model in 2014, several key volunteers who cut their teeth at Girls’ Gen were well prepared to fill these roles. A number of these key volunteers are still active in the PNW and the FIRST Championship. 

It was recommended to me that we try this again in hopes of bringing more volunteers into the PNW. For this year’s Girls’ Generation we’re looking for some new volunteers in each of the following areas. 

  

  • Master of Ceremonies (Age requirement 18+) 
  • Game Announcer (Age requirement 18+) 
  • Queuer 
  • Audio Visual Technician 
  • Referee (Age requirement 18+) 
  • Scorekeeper (Age requirement 18+) 
  • Robot Inspector (Age requirement 18+) We plan on having an optional mock inspection process at the event 

  

Our goal is to have seasoned veteran volunteers in each of these roles to provide support and guidance. If you think that you might be interested in volunteering for this year’s Girls’ Generation event in Washington, fill out the form linked here. These positions are not limited to women only. Anyone is welcome to help. We cannot guarantee that you will be given a volunteer role, but we’ll do our best to find you a spot. 

  

Also, our team is always in need of additional volunteer support with set up and tear down. I’ll put those options in the form as well if you would like to support. 

 

  

 

 

Block Party 2026 

Dates: October 24&25, 2026 

Location: Mill Creek, WA 

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

 

Make The Last Weekend of PNW Off-Season count! 

Close out REBUILT with one final weekend in the PNW at 2910’s 2026 PNW Block Party! 

Enjoy two days of full-on competition on a real field, with qualification matches, alliance selection, and double-elimination playoffs. 

  • October 24–25, 2026 
  • Henry M. Jackson High School • Mill Creek, WA 
  • $400 registration for your first robot; +$200 for a second robot as space allows 

Bring your robot, bring your crew, come party with 2910 — we’ll have donuts! 

 

Team Registration form  

 

Volunteer Registration form 

 

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

 

Important Dates

Now:   FIRST Washington Registration is Open 

9-14: FIRST Washington Grant opens 

9-24: Coaches Chat 

9-24: First preferencing window opens 

10-3: OR Girls Gen 

10-4: FIRST Chance 

10-5: FIRST Washington Grant closes 

10-10 & 11: Bordie Blast Through Time 

10-15: Second preferencing window opens 

10-17 & 18: WA Girls Gen 

10-25 & 26: Block Party 

10-29: Unrestricted Regional and additional in district registration opens 

11-5: Inter district registration opens 

FTC BIOBUZZ Blog: Volume 7

Coaches Chat tonight at 7:00 pm 

  

We will be having our next coaches chat on Tuesday, 9-8 at 7:00 pm.  It is important to have at least one adult mentor attend.   

Click here to attend 

FTC Kickoff Registration  

Kickoff is this Saturday, Sept 12th at 9 am PDT! Our wonderful hosts are working hard to plan for a great kickoff for all of you!  If you have not yet registered, you need to do so ASAP! 

Woodinville High School 

19819 136th Ave NE     

Woodinville, WA 98072 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
  • 2:00 pm: Event ends 

 

Saint Martin’s University- Cebula Hall 3rd Floor 

5000 Abbey Way SE 

Lacey, WA 98503 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
  • 12:30 pm: Event ends 

 

Ridgeline High School  

20150 E. Country Vista Dr. 

Liberty Lake, WA 98019 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
  • 11:30 am: Event ends 

 

Kennewick High School  

560 W 6th Ave 

Kennewick, WA 99336 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
  • 12:00 pm: Event ends 

 

BrickCon 2026- Meydenbauer Center  

11100 NE 6th St.  

Bellevue, WA 98004 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
  • 12:00 pm: Event ends 

 

To register for a kickoff, fill out this form   

More details will be sent out closer to kickoff (schedule, workshops being offered etc…) to those who have registered for the event. 

FIRST Washington Grant will open next week 

 

FIRST Washington Grants will open next Monday, 9-14.  You can find past communications regarding funding and the link to the grant application here:  https://firstwa.org/firstwa-grant/   

Remember: 

  • You will have to fill out a grant application to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington manages 
  • The grant form will need to be filled out for each team you would like to be considered for funding 
  • Grants will no longer be deducted from your FIRST Washington registration, they will be issued separately based on the info you submit in the grant application as well as your school requirements (if you are a school based team) 

Important Dates

    Now  FIRST Washington Registration is open 

    9-8:   FTC Coaches Chat 

    9-12: FTC Kickoff 

    9-14: FIRST Washington grant opens 

    9-25: Need to be registered with FIRST Washington to be placed into a league 

    10-5:  FIRST Washington grant closes 

    FLL BIOGLOW Blog: Volume 4

    In this weeks Blog

     Grants!

     

    Make sure you read the entire blog!

    Boeing Team Grants are open!

      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. 

    FIRST Washington Grant will open 9-14

      As we said in communications over the summer, FIRST Washington Grants will be handled a bit differently this year.  Here are the important changes to note: 

    • You will have to fill out a grant application to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington manages 
    • The grant form will need to be filled out for each team you would like to be considered for funding 
    • Grants will no longer be deducted from your FIRST Washington registration, they will be issued separately based on the info you submit in the grant application as well as your school requirements (if you are a school based team) 

    The grant will open 9-14 and will close 10-5.  As stated above, if you want your team to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington handles, you will need to fill out this application. 

    We will post the application link and information on the application on the FIRST Washington website once the grant is open as well as send that information out in the blog on 9-15. 

     

    First Coaches Chat of the Season!

    Our first coaches chat of the season will be Wednesday September 16th at 7pm! Click here to join

     

    Important Dates & Deadlines

    Now:   FIRST Washington Registration is Open 

    9-14: FIRST Washington Grant opens 

    9-16: Coaches Chat 

    10-5: FIRST Washington Grant closes 

     

    More From FLL

    FRC BIOCORE Blog: Volume 6

    2026/27 FRC Event Schedule is public

     FIRST has posted 2026/27 events.  You can find event information here:  https://www.firstinspires.org/team-event-search  

     For your convenience, here are the PNW Event dates: 

    Week 1 

    3-4 to 3-6 Clackamas Academy, Oregon City, OR 

    Week 2 

    3-12 to 3-14 Kentridge High School, Kent, WA 

    3-12 to 3-14 Wilsonville High School, Wilsonville, OR 

     Week 3 

    3-18 to 3-20 SunDome, Yakima, WA 

    3-19 to 3-21 Sammamish High School, Bellevue, WA 

    Week 4 

    3-25 to 3-27 Oregon State Fair, Salem, OR 

    Week 5 

    4-2 to 4-4 Bonney Lake High School, Bonney Lake, WA 

    4-2 to 4-4 Glacker Peak High School, Snohomish, WA 

    Week 7 

    4-14 to 4-17 District Championships, Portland, OR 

     

    The first event preferencing window will open Thursday, September 24.  We will have a coaches chat at 7 pm that evening where we will go over the preferencing process for those who need a reminder. 

    FIRST Washington Grant will open 9-14 

      As we said in communications over the summer, FIRST Washington Grants will be handled a bit differently this year.  Here are the important changes to note: 

    • You will have to fill out a grant application to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington manages 
    • The grant form will need to be filled out for each team you would like to be considered for funding 
    • Grants will no longer be deducted from your FIRST Washington registration, they will be issued separately based on the info you submit in the grant application as well as your school requirements (if you are a school based team) 

    The grant will open 9-14 and will close 10-5.  As stated above, if you want your team to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington handles, you will need to fill out this application. 

    We will post the application link and information on the application on the FIRST Washington website once the grant is open as well as send that information out in the blog on 9-15. 

     

    Important Dates

    Now:   FIRST Washington Registration is Open 

    9-14: FIRST Washington Grant opens 

    9-24: Coaches Chat 

    9-24: First preferencing window opens 

    9-26 & 27: Storm Surge 

    10-3: OR Girls Gen 

    10-4: FIRST Chance 

    10-5: FIRST Washington Grant closes 

    10-10 & 11: Bordie Blast Through Time 

    10-15: Second preferencing window opens 

    10-17 & 18: WA Girls Gen 

    10-25 & 26: Block Party 

    10-29: Unrestricted Regional and additional in district registration opens 

    11-5: Inter district registration opens 

    FTC BIOBUZZ Blog: Volume 6

    Coaches Chat’s 

      We will be having our next coaches chat on Tuesday, 9-8 at 7:00 pm.  It is important to have at least one adult mentor attend.   

    Click here to attend 

    FTC Kickoff Registration  

    Kickoff is Saturday, Sept 12th at 9 am PDT! Our wonderful hosts are working hard to plan for a great kickoff for all of you!  Please help them by filling out the registration form (link below) so our hosts can see how many teams and people will be in attendance at their event.   

    Woodinville High School 

    19819 136th Ave NE     

    Woodinville, WA 98072 

    • 8:30 am: Doors open 
    • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
    • 2:00 pm: Event ends 

     

    Saint Martin’s University- Cebula Hall 3rd Floor 

    5000 Abbey Way SE 

    Lacey, WA 98503 

    • 8:30 am: Doors open 
    • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
    • 12:30 pm: Event ends 

     

    Ridgeline High School  

    20150 E. Country Vista Dr. 

    Liberty Lake, WA 98019 

    • 8:30 am: Doors open 
    • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
    • 11:30 am: Event ends 

     

    Kennewick High School  

    560 W 6th Ave 

    Kennewick, WA 99336 

    • 8:30 am: Doors open 
    • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
    • 12:00 pm: Event ends 

     

    BrickCon 2026- Meydenbauer Center  

    11100 NE 6th St.  

    Bellevue, WA 98004 

    • 8:30 am: Doors open 
    • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
    • 12:00 pm: Event ends 

     

    To register for a kickoff, fill out this form   

    More details will be sent out closer to kickoff (schedule, workshops being offered etc…) to those who have registered for the event. 

     

    FIRST Washington Grant will open 9-14 

      

    As we said in communications over the summer, FIRST Washington Grants will be handled a bit differently this year.  Here are the important changes to note: 

    • You will have to fill out a grant application to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington manages 
    • The grant form will need to be filled out for each team you would like to be considered for funding 
    • Grants will no longer be deducted from your FIRST Washington registration, they will be issued separately based on the info you submit in the grant application as well as your school requirements (if you are a school based team) 

    The grant will open 9-14 and will close 10-5.  As stated above, if you want your team to be considered for any funding that FIRST Washington handles, you will need to fill out this application. 

    We will post the application link and information on the application on the FIRST Washington website once the grant is open as well as send that information out in the blog on 9-15. 

    Important Dates

      Now  FIRST Washington Registration is open 

      9-8:  FTC Coaches Chat 

      9-12: FTC Kickoff 

      9-14: FIRST Washington grant opens 

      9-25: Need to be registered with FIRST Washington to be placed into a league 

      10-5: FIRST Washington grant closes 

      FRC BIOCORE Blog: Volume 5

      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