FIRST Youth Robotics Programs
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), 5000 Mitty Way, Belmont, CA 95129
About
FIRST Youth Robotics Programs engage students in robot design, coding, and team-based competition. Participants take part in hands-on STEM learning and exploration, including real-world robotics challenges where they research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Founded in 1989, FIRST is a global nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organization and is described as the world’s leading youth robotics community, with a presence in 114 countries and more than 4 million youth participants since 1989. FIRST Youth Robotics Programs include a suite of youth robotics competitions, such as FIRST LEGO League for grades K–8 (ages 5–16), FIRST Tech Challenge for grades 7–12 (ages 12–18), and FIRST Robotics Competition for grades 9–12 (ages 14–18), each offering age-appropriate challenges tied to a yearly theme. FIRST Tech Challenge is a platform where students work on real-world STEM skills and connect to mentorships and career exploration opportunities, and FIRST Robotics Competition involves engineering industrial-sized robots for large-scale competition.
The mission of FIRST is to provide life-changing robotics programs that give young people the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world. The programs are guided by FIRST Core Values and place emphasis on Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition®. FIRST robotics programs deliver hands-on STEM education to schools, afterschool programs, and community learning spaces, and are suitable for schools or structured afterschool activities.
FIRST is supported by a global network of volunteers, educators, and sponsor/donors, including more than 200 Fortune 500 companies. Students in FIRST programs connect to exclusive scholarships and employers, and FIRST offers classroom to career and scholarship opportunities. Data reported by FIRST indicate that 83% of FIRST alumni pursue STEM majors by year four of college and 96% of FIRST students overcome challenges through program participation.
FIRST has operated as a not-for-profit organization for more than three decades and created the FIRST Global Challenge to make science and technology available to youth everywhere through Olympics-style competition. The leadership of FIRST includes Dean Kamen as Founder and Dr. Woodie Flowers as executive advisory board chair emeritus and distinguished advisor to FIRST. A testimonial from Dean Kamen states, “FIRST is More Than Robots®. The robots are a vehicle for students to learn important life skills. Kids often come in not knowing what to expect – of the program nor of themselves. They leave, even after the first season, with a vision, with confidence, and with a sense that they can create their own future.”
Last updated March 22, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Founded in 1989, FIRST is a global nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organization and is described as the world’s leading youth robotics community, with a presence in 114 countries and more than 4 million youth participants since 1989. FIRST Youth Robotics Programs include a suite of youth robotics competitions, such as FIRST LEGO League for grades K–8 (ages 5–16), FIRST Tech Challenge for grades 7–12 (ages 12–18), and FIRST Robotics Competition for grades 9–12 (ages 14–18), each offering age-appropriate challenges tied to a yearly theme. FIRST Tech Challenge is a platform where students work on real-world STEM skills and connect to mentorships and career exploration opportunities, and FIRST Robotics Competition involves engineering industrial-sized robots for large-scale competition.
The mission of FIRST is to provide life-changing robotics programs that give young people the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world. The programs are guided by FIRST Core Values and place emphasis on Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition®. FIRST robotics programs deliver hands-on STEM education to schools, afterschool programs, and community learning spaces, and are suitable for schools or structured afterschool activities.
FIRST is supported by a global network of volunteers, educators, and sponsor/donors, including more than 200 Fortune 500 companies. Students in FIRST programs connect to exclusive scholarships and employers, and FIRST offers classroom to career and scholarship opportunities. Data reported by FIRST indicate that 83% of FIRST alumni pursue STEM majors by year four of college and 96% of FIRST students overcome challenges through program participation.
FIRST has operated as a not-for-profit organization for more than three decades and created the FIRST Global Challenge to make science and technology available to youth everywhere through Olympics-style competition. The leadership of FIRST includes Dean Kamen as Founder and Dr. Woodie Flowers as executive advisory board chair emeritus and distinguished advisor to FIRST. A testimonial from Dean Kamen states, “FIRST is More Than Robots®. The robots are a vehicle for students to learn important life skills. Kids often come in not knowing what to expect – of the program nor of themselves. They leave, even after the first season, with a vision, with confidence, and with a sense that they can create their own future.”
Last updated March 22, 2026.
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