FIRST is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting Mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.”
FIRST includes 4 programs for children and youth from kindergarten to 12th grade and include a diverse range of fun and learning. It was founded 1989 by entrepreneur and inventor Dean Kamen, and now involves 359,000 students & 200,000 teachers and mentors. In 2005 the local FIRST Israel was founded, which has since then gone on to captivate the hearts and minds on tens of thousands of students from all walks of life.
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SUB-TEAMS
CAD
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Electricity & Pneumatic
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Software Team
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Strategy Team
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FIRST LEGO League Explore (aka FLL Explore) is designed to introduce STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) concepts to kids ages 6 to 10 while exciting them using LEGO. Teams are up to 6 members and they are guided by two or more adult Coaches. D-Bug mentored 76 FLL Explore teams.
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The teams explore a real-world scientific problem such as food safety, recycling, energy, etc. Then they create a poster that introduces their team and illustrates their journey of discovery. During the process the kids learn about teamwork, the wonders of science and technology and other important values, such as respect, sharing and critical thinking.
FIRST LEGO League Challenge (aka FLL Challenge) teams include up to 10 memeber from grades 4-9. Each year the students research a different real-world problem such as food safety, recycling, energy, etc., and are challenged to develop a solution. They also must design, build, program a robot using LEGO, and then compete on a table-top playing field.
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Along their discovery journey, they develop critical thinking and team-building skills, and even presentation skills, as they must present their solutions and robots with a dash of creativity to judges. D-Bug consistently mentors 3 teams at our school, and helps many others.
FIRST Tech Challenge (aka FTC) teams (10+ members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to play a floor game in an alliance format. Guided by adult Coaches and Mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles (like keeping an engineering notebook), while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and sharing ideas.
The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and can be programmed using a variety of languages. Teams also must raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach for which they can win awards. Each season concludes with regional championships and an exciting FIRST Championship.
Alumni have access to tens of millions of dollars in college scholarships. Participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have!”
FIRST Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Teams of 10 or more high school students are challenged to design, manufacture, build and program an original robot from scratch, able to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors - all in a matter of a few weeks. Teams are also challenged to create a team "brand", communicate with spnosors, and do wide reaching community activities.
Professional Mentors volunteer their time and talents to guide each team. It’s as close to “real world” engineering as a high school student can get. During competitions teams compete to win awards given for extraordinay achivments in robot creation and community outreach, as well as to be the best robot on the field.
