Welcome to FIRST AGE and the FRC Game REBUILT

FIRST Forums – Get Training!

Forums – Many teams have expressed a need for training for mentors, students and parents.  We are excited to present four opportunities this year for just that!  FIRST Forums is a chance for teams to teach teams and learn from our experts in the field on topics from technical issues, awards prep, judging, and more!

Saturday, 9/27 – Vincennes University and Purdue West Lafayette
Saturday 10/4 – Purdue Indy and Purdue Fort Wayne

Pick the event that is closest to you or works with your schedule or attend more than one!

Grants / Fundraising

    1. BAE Systems – Within 70 miles of Fort Wayne
    2. AEP / Indiana Michigan Power – be in their service area
    3. FIRST Grant Portal
    4. Donors Choose – public school teacher opportunity
    5. Don Wood Foundation – Camps, Clubs, and Competitions in NE Indiana
    6. NASA Rookie and 2nd year team grants
    7. How To: Sponsor Relations
    8. Marketing Robots
    9. FRC Outside the Bot Podcast – Fundraising
      1. Spotify
    10. Harbor Freight – Tools for Schools
    11. Toshiba America Foundation

Youth Registration

Express Enrollment/Express Mentor: Lead coaches in the United States and Canada with completed FIRST® Youth Protection Screenings can take advantage of our express features which provides a simplified experience on mobile and desktop to register and accept youth/mentors to FIRST teams:

Express Enrollment can be used for youth members. View Express Enrollment Lead Coach Instructions and the Express Enrollment Parent/Guardian Instructions.

Express Mentor can be used to invite and accept mentors and youth mentors aged 13-17. Please note that this application cannot be used to invite lead coach 1 or lead coach 2. View Express Mentor Lead Coach Instructions and Accepting an Express Mentor Invitation Instructions.

Important Dates and Reminders

9/1/2025 – FIRST Scholarship Portal opened – Check out the New FIRST Scholarship Portal on the Pearson website.

9/23/2025 – Reminder! Drive Base & Black Tote Opt Out: By default, all Kickoff Kits include a Drive Base Kit & Black Tote, but veteran teams who are “event ready” can opt to receive vouchers instead of the drive base kit and/or the Black Tote by selecting “Drive Base Opt Out” or “Black Tote Opt Out” from the “Team Options” under the “Parts and Products” drop down in the FIRST Dashboard. Teams can opt out until September 23, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. noon ET. Note: Event ready refers to teams with two assigned Lead Coaches and, if they are in Canada or the U.S., both must have a completed background check.

9/25/2025 – Round 1 Event Preferencing opens at Noon EASTERN on the 25th and closes 10/2/2025 at Noon EASTERN

Teams should check out the Event Preferencing User Guide & Event Preferencing FAQ. These resources help explain the Event Preferencing process and answer any potential questions. As a reminder, Event Preferencing opens next week so make sure to read these to prepare!

9/27/2025 – FIRST Forums (see above)

10/4/2025 – FIRST Forums (see above)

11/1/2025 – FIRST Mentor Training – As announced at the FIRST Indiana town hall, we will be hosting the inaugural FIRST Indiana Mentor Workshop, think Purdue forums but just for mentors! The event will be November 1, 2025 at the Center Grove Innovation Center. More information and sign up: https://forms.gle/8Cw9H2j4DQzVVC1Q7