Typically there is a small charge (~$60) to cover team shirts and apparel to be a registered student on our travel team.

Team meals typically cost ~$10 per night during build season or families can contribute a meal in exchange.

Hotel room expenses are split 3/4 ways between students or students can stay with their family. If we travel to Houston, airfare is an additional expense.

*Financial Hardship Grants are Available

We have three seasons in this sport. Build Season (which we meet 3 days during the week (~3 hours) and both weekend days (~5 hours) in January-February, Competition Season - in which we meet regularly and travel to 2-5 events in New England and beyond (March-April), and the Off-Season (May-December) where we meet occasionally, do outreach and attend 2-4 off-season events. Build and Competition season are our busiest times and we ask that students attend when possible. We realize that students balance many activities and students with limited availability are still welcome.

*Please note that leadership roles are partially determined by student attendance and contribution levels.

We meet at two locations:

The STEM Lab at Stafford Technical Center

FRC Practice Field at The MINT in Rutland

If your student enjoys learning new skills, is comfortable in a team atmosphere, enjoys transforming a conceptual idea into real life mechanism and enjoys the excitement of sports - they will enjoy what we do. Since we work with tools and travel we expect all Students to demonstrate Gracious Professionalism, be good teammates, practice safe behavior, function as independent learners, work hard, stay focused and have a can-do attitude.

No. We are community team - meaning we have no restrictions when it comes to which school (or homeschool) a student attends. Students from every school and homeschool are welcome.

No.

We are here to teach. Most students join our team with no prior knowledge of Robotics or Engineering. Some learn these skills - others gravitate to other roles on the team (Graphic Design, Scouting, Business Plans, Finance, Data Analysis, Photography, Video, Social Media, Outreach, Judge Interviews, Mascot / Cheering, etc.)

Yes! Colleges love seeing students who participated in FIRST. They offer millions of dollars in scholarships to students who participate. We have had alumni who have gotten partial and full scholarships to well regarded colleges and universities.

https://www.firstinspires.org/alumni/scholarships

At its core, FRC is a workforce development program wrapped in the veneer of sport. Students are given a challenge each year, given approximately 6 weeks to develop a robot to solve that challenge and another 6 weeks to compete. They learn critical thinking skills, project management, engineering, tooling, machining, prototyping, programming, design, marketing, presentation skills, data analysis, budgeting, teamwork, cooperation with other teams and so much more. Employers cherish hiring FIRST alumni.