July 2020
Our world is currently very different and evolving daily. FIRST Canada’s number one priority is to provide a safe environment for all of our teams. With the recent announcements of options around schools reopening in September 2020, we’d like to provide some resources around our programs to help guide teachers, students and mentors on teams as they get set for the new season!
With the new curriculum focused on children, Grades 1 to 8 learning concepts related to coding, our program enables kids to learn coding while also learning other skills – mechanics, writing and presentations. In FIRST Programs, students solve a given challenge, teams explore multiple technologies and methodologies including LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, or LEGO WeDo 2.0, Java, C++, LabVIEW and Google Blockly coding.
Registrations have opened for FIRST LEGO League; Discover, Explore, Challenge and FIRST Tech Challenge and we are asking that all teams adhere to local city/municipal advice regarding gathering rules around meeting and operating their teams.
FIRST Headquarters and FIRST Canada have been working very hard to develop solutions for all our programs. For FIRST Robotics Competition teams, we are working on options for multiple scenarios including smaller scale in-person events. There are a lot of variables for the FIRST Robotics Competition season but we are hopeful that teams will be able to compete. We have secured our venue contracts and as long as it is safe to do so, we will run events in the usual March/April timeframe.
We want to bring our community up to date as to where we are. Please note that things are subject to change. We really hope teams will register, meet in a safe fashion or virtually if need be and still experience a FIRST season this coming year. We are planning to have a further update on all programs and events on August 17th that will allow us to provide more details to our community. In the meantime, please have a wonderful summer and be safe.
Information on FIRST LEGO League Discover Program
| Teams | Registration Open. Register as a Class Pack. Please use the current gathering guidelines to meet with your teams. |
| Events | Festivals can be conducted online and/or F2F based on current gathering rules. Please reach out to Christine Bibic to get more information. |
| Resources, Registration and Costs |
Information on resources, curriculum links, costs etc. |
Information on FIRST LEGO League Explore Program
| Teams | Registration Open. Register as a Team, Class Pack or School Pack. Please use the current gathering guidelines to meet with your teams. |
| Events | Festivals can be conducted online and/or F2F based on current gathering rules. Please reach out to Christine Bibic to get more information. |
| Resources, Registration and Costs |
Information on resources, curriculum links, costs etc. |
Information on FIRST LEGO League Challenge Program
| Teams | Registration Open. Register as a Team or Class Pack. Please use the current gathering guidelines to meet with your teams. |
| Events | At this time FIRST Canada would like to confirm that we will be running FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge tournaments next year. These events are not scheduled as of yet and the type of event (remote or face to face) and timing of events will be completely determined by safety and the medical guidance. Please join us on FIRST Canada LIVE! starting in September for live updates and information segments on our programs! More information to follow in August!. Please reach out to Annika Pint to get more information. |
| Resources, Registration and Costs |
Information on resources, curriculum links, costs etc. |
Information on FIRST Tech Challenge Program
| Teams | Registration Open. Register as a Team or Class Pack. Please use the current gathering guidelines to meet with your teams. |
| Events | At this time FIRST Canada would like to confirm that we will be running FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge tournaments next year. These events are not scheduled as of yet and the type of event (remote or face to face) and timing of events will be completely determined by safety and the medical guidance. Please join us on FIRST Canada LIVE! starting in September for live updates and information segments on our programs! More information to follow in August! Please reach out to Dave Ellis to get more information. |
| Resources, Registration and Costs |
Information on resources, curriculum links, costs etc. FTC Share and Learn |
Information on FIRST Robotics Competition
| Teams | Registration opens in Fall. Over the summer months, the team dashboard information is being updated, so make sure you check-in regularly for updates. Lead coach mentors should also consider logging into the dashboard and updating the consent and release forms and possibly the Youth Protection Policy (YPP) if that is due for renewal. Lastly, as part of our commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community for all our participants, we encourage all our participants; mentors, coaches, teachers, students to complete the EDI Training Modules. |
| Events | FIRST Robotics Competition events are planned for 2021. More information on events to follow in the fall based on COVID-19 situation. Please join us on FIRSTCanadaLIVE! starting in September for live updates and information segments on our programs!. Please reach out to John Hobbins to get more information |
| Resources, Registration and Costs |
Check back for more information! |