Friday, August 22, 2025

2 WEEKS UNTIL KICKOFF + Meet the Field Days


Arizona Kickoff & Workshops

  • Date: September 6, 2025
  • Location: Valley Christian Schools K-8 Campus
  • Address: 6101 S. River Dr, Tempe, AZ 85283
  • RSVP and submit a workshop proposal HERE!
    • Workshop proposals are due by August 28 for consideration.
  • Schedule: 
    • 7:30 AM: Doors open
    • 8:30 AM: AZ Season information
    • 9:00 AM: DECODE game reveal
    • 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM: Workshops

Four Corners Kickoff & Coaches Training
We have funding for 10 new "RezBotics" teams for the 2025/2026 season! Interested schools can apply HERE.
  • Date: September 12 & 13
  • Location: Chinle, AZ
  • Schedule:
    • Friday: 2 pm to 6 pm MST
    • Saturday: 8 am to 3 pm MST
  • Teachers can earn PD hours from NAU for attendance. This training is open to veteran and rookie RezBotics coaches. Training will take a close look at this year's game, team management, robot building and programming sessions, including advanced concepts for veteran coaches. Please RSVP to Nathan at nathan.tohtsoni@navenergy.com to reserve your spot.

Tournament Dates - Updated 8/26/25
We're getting close to having our tournament season lined up! Our plan to is open qualifying tournament registration by no later than September 6 (kickoff). We anticipate that pricing will remain the same ($225 for two events and $300 for three events with a separate fee for the region championship events.)
  • ARIZONA REGION:
    • Nov. 8: High Country Qualifier, Coconino HS, Flagstaff
    • Nov. 15: Roadrunner Qualifier, Gilbert Christian HS, Gilbert
    • Nov. 15: Red Rock Qualifier, Microchip, Chandler
    • Nov. 22: Prickly Pear Qualifier, Sonoran Trails MS, Phoenix
    • Dec. 6: Turquoise Qualifier, Valley Christian K-8, Tempe
    • Dec. 6: Painted Desert Qualifier, Brophy College Prep, Phoenix
    • Dec. 13: Diamondback Qualifier, San Miguel HS, Tucson
    • Jan. 17: Desert Vista Qualifier, Glendale Prep, Peoria
    • Jan. 24: Saguaro Blossom Qualifier, Microchip, Chandler
    • Jan 24: Petrified Wood Qualifier, Brophy College Prep, PHX
    • Jan 31: Ironwood Qualifier, Copper Canyon HS, Glendale
    • Feb. 7: Copper Qualifier, American Leadership Academy, Queen Creek
    • TBD:
    • TBD: Arizona Championship
  • FOUR CORNERS REGION:
    • Nov 22: Rock with Wings - Shiprock Qualifier
    • Dec. 13: Monument Valley - Kayenta Qualifier
    • TBD: Four Corners Championship, Chinle


Team Registration - Now Open!

Registration is now open for returning and rookie teams! Go to www.firstinspires.org, login to your Dashboard, and complete your team registration for the 2025/2026 FTC season. Teams should pay their season registration with FIRST ($325) as soon as possible (unless you are waiting for a grant, then please wait!). All teams can indicate their intent to return this season on the dashboard while waiting for grant funding to come through. All teams must be paid for the current season with FIRST at least one week prior to their first official tournament. 

Coming soon: NEW training for mentors through your dashboard through the Mentor Development Initiative!


DECODE Season Important Dates
Check out the most recent FTC Blog for updates on Dean's List submissions, release dates for software and scoring system, payment deadlines, and when events can take place throughout the season. 


Flagstaff Meet the Field Day
Date: Saturday, September 13
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Location: Moonshot - City of Flagstaff Campus
Address: 2201 N Gemini Drive, Accelerator Main Conference Room
Contact name: Elijah Rentschler
Contact email: rentschler@flagchristian.org
Contact phone number: (928) 830-0665
Event can host 6 teams; Please RSVP by email to Elijah at rentschler@flagchristian.org


Robosapien Robotics 
Meet the Field Day:
Date: September 20th 2025
Time: 10 am - 3 pm
Location: 3535 E McDowell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Contact name: Anna Newley
Contact emailanewley@sonoranschools.org
Contact phone number: 480 440 3189 (PLEASE TEXT)
Event can host up to 10 teams; Please RSVP via this link


Arizona Tax Credits

To help promote tax credit donations, AZFirst has implemented a Tax Credit page on the AZFirst website. We're hoping by providing all the information in one place, we can get better participation and have Arizona Tax Credit's directed to your teams. We're asking that you please take a couple minutes and complete this form. We'll take the info submitted and update the tax credit donation information for teams. 



FTC Hardship Grants
New this season, both rookie and veteran teams are eligible for hardship funding through FIRST Tech Challenge. Teams must be nominated by their local program delivery partner and demonstrate that they are experiencing significant financial barriers to participation in FTC. A few things you should consider before asking to be nominated for a grant: 

  • Grants will be awarded weekly on Wednesdays. We will submit nominations for AZ and Four Corners Thursday afternoons each week. 
  • Teams can request $325 (season registration) up to $1585 (a new rookie team with full robot kit). Please consider carefully the funding your team needs by looking at the storefront pricing options. Please only apply for the full funding in cases of extreme need.
  • Awarded teams will receive a one-time grant which can only be used towards FIRST® Tech Challenge season registration and products in the FIRST Tech Challenge Storefront. 
    • Teams must meet all the eligibility criteria found below and be nominated by their region’s Partner in order to be considered for funding. 
    • Need-based funding is limited. Grants will be awarded until the funding is exhausted. 
    • If you are expecting a grant, please do not check out of the storefront until that grant has been awarded. FIRST will not be able to make changes to orders after checkout. View the complete payment terms here.
  • Grant Eligibility:
    • Awarded teams must participate in the 2025-2026 FIRST® Tech Challenge competition season. 
    • Share a "Thank you" post on social media tagging the Sponsors and FIRST Tech Challenge. 
    • Failure to acknowledge this gift, complete reporting requirements, and participate in the competition season may result in ineligibility for future grants. 
  • Grant Timeline: Grant will be awarded on a weekly basis on Wednesdays, starting August 6. The PDPs will submit nominations each week on Thursday afternoon.
  • To request a grant nomination for your team, please COMPLETE THIS FORM. 
    • Incomplete forms will not be considered. 
    • Forms will be reviewed by the PDPs for FTC, and we reserve the right to follow up with teams about your application OR to not submit a nomination if financial need is not demonstrated.

 

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

AZ & Four Corners Kickoff Events, Hardship Grants, Season Manual Preview!


Welcome back from summer to the 2025/2026 FIRST Tech Challenge Season DECODE!!! Don’t just dream it, DECODE it. Got what it takes?

Team Registration - Now Open!

Registration is now open for returning and rookie teams! Go to www.firstinspires.org, login to your Dashboard, and complete your team registration for the 2025/2026 FTC season. Teams should pay their season registration with FIRST ($325) as soon as possible (unless you are waiting for a grant, then please wait!). All teams can indicate their intent to return this season on the dashboard while waiting for grant funding to come through. All teams must be paid for the current season with FIRST at least one week prior to their first official tournament. 

Coming soon: NEW training for mentors through your dashboard through the Mentor Development Initiative!

Arizona Kickoff & Workshops

  • Date: September 6, 2025
  • Location: Valley Christian Schools K-8 Campus
  • Address: 6101 S. River Dr, Tempe, AZ 85283
  • RSVP and submit a workshop proposal HERE!
    • Workshop proposals are due by August 28 for consideration.
  • Schedule: 
    • 7:30 AM: Doors open
    • 8:30 AM: AZ Season information
    • 9:00 AM: DECODE game reveal
    • 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM: Workshops

Four Corners Kickoff & Coaches Training
We have funding for 10 new "RezBotics" teams for the 2025/2026 season! Interested schools can apply HERE.
  • Date: September 12 & 13
  • Location: Chinle, AZ
  • Schedule:
    • Friday: 2 pm to 6 pm MST
    • Saturday: 8 am to 3 pm MST
  • Teachers can earn PD hours from NAU for attendance. This training is open to veteran and rookie RezBotics coaches. Training will take a close look at this year's game, team management, robot building and programming sessions, including advanced concepts for veteran coaches. Please RSVP to Nathan at nathan.tohtsoni@navenergy.com to reserve your spot.

Tournament Dates - Updated 8/22/25
We're already getting questions about tournament dates and locations! We love the enthusiasm for the upcoming season. While many of our tournament directors are still working to secure dates, we do have a few confirmed. We will update this list as we confirm tournaments, and plan to open qualifying tournament registration by no later than September 6 (kickoff). Details coming soon!
  • ARIZONA REGION:
    • Nov. 8: High Country Qualifier, Coconino HS, Flagstaff
    • Nov. 15: Roadrunner Qualifier, Gilbert Christian HS, Gilbert
    • Nov. 15: Red Rock Qualifier, Microchip, Chandler
    • Nov. 22: Prickly Pear Qualifier, Sonoran Trails MS, Phoenix
    • Dec. 6: Turquoise Qualifier, Valley Christian K-8, Tempe
    • Dec. 6: Painted Desert Qualifier, Brophy College Prep, Phoenix
    • Dec. 13: Diamondback Qualifier, San Miguel HS, Tucson
    • Jan. 17: Desert Vista Qualifier, Glendale Prep, Peoria
    • Jan. 24: Saguaro Blossom Qualifier, Microchip, Chandler
    • Jan 24: Petrified Wood Qualifier, Brophy College Prep, PHX
    • Jan 31: Ironwood Qualifier, Copper Canyon HS, Glendale
    • Feb. 7: Copper Qualifier, American Leadership Academy, Queen Creek
    • TBD:
    • TBD: Arizona Championship
  • FOUR CORNERS REGION:
    • Nov 22: Shiprock Qualifier
    • Dec. 13: Kayenta Qualifier
    • TBD: Four Corners Championship, Chinle

FTC Hardship Grants
New this season, both rookie and veteran teams are eligible for hardship funding through FIRST Tech Challenge. Teams must be nominated by their local program delivery partner and demonstrate that they are experiencing significant financial barriers to participation in FTC. A few things you should consider before asking to be nominated for a grant: 
  • Grants will be awarded weekly on Wednesdays. We will submit nominations for AZ and Four Corners Thursday afternoons each week. 
  • Teams can request $325 (season registration) up to $1585 (a new rookie team with full robot kit). Please consider carefully the funding your team needs by looking at the storefront pricing options. Please only apply for the full funding in cases of extreme need.
  • Awarded teams will receive a one-time grant which can only be used towards FIRST® Tech Challenge season registration and products in the FIRST Tech Challenge Storefront. 
    • Teams must meet all the eligibility criteria found below and be nominated by their region’s Partner in order to be considered for funding. 
    • Need-based funding is limited. Grants will be awarded until the funding is exhausted. 
    • If you are expecting a grant, please do not check out of the storefront until that grant has been awarded. FIRST will not be able to make changes to orders after checkout. View the complete payment terms here.
  • Grant Eligibility:
    • Awarded teams must participate in the 2025-2026 FIRST® Tech Challenge competition season. 
    • Share a "Thank you" post on social media tagging the Sponsors and FIRST Tech Challenge. 
    • Failure to acknowledge this gift, complete reporting requirements, and participate in the competition season may result in ineligibility for future grants. 
  • Grant Timeline: Grant will be awarded on a weekly basis on Wednesdays, starting August 6. The PDPs will submit nominations each week on Thursday afternoon.
  • To request a grant nomination for your team, please COMPLETE THIS FORM. 
    • Incomplete forms will not be considered. 
    • Forms will be reviewed by the PDPs for FTC, and we reserve the right to follow up with teams about your application OR to not submit a nomination if financial need is not demonstrated.

FTC Program Updates for the New Season
  • Advancement (ex: qualifiers to region championship and region championships to Worlds) will be changed this season. Please read the blog post from FTC for more details.
  • FTC World Championship capacity will be increased to 336 teams (from 256 last season!) 
  • FTC also anticipates adding additional Premier events to allow more teams to advance beyond the Region Championships.
  • The preview version of the season manual is HERE and includes updates on awards and robot requirements.
    • Motivate Award has been removed
    • New team awards: Reach Award & Sustain Award
    • FTC teams can now apply for the Digital Animation and Safety Animation Awards

Apply Now for FIRST® LEGO® League Grant Funding – Round 2 Now Open!

Hello Coaches & Mentors,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 FIRST LEGO League UNEARTHED season!

As we kick off the new FIRST® LEGO® League season, ASU is excited to offer financial assistance to help Arizona FLL teams get up and running. Whether you’re starting a brand-new team, expanding an existing program, or facing budget challenges, we encourage you to apply.

Ø  Round 1: Open now with a deadline of August 5th

Ø  Round 2: Opens August 6th (only if funds remain)

We encourage teams to apply as soon as possible. Funding is limited and will be awarded based on need and availability.

ASU-managed grants will give priority to teams that meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Rookie (first-year) teams
  • Teams transitioning to FLL Challenge after participating in FLL Explore
  • Teams affiliated with Title I schools
  • Returning programs planning to expand with new team(s)
  • FLL Challenge teams seeking financial support to transition from LEGO EV3 to SPIKE Prime

We encourage all interested teams to apply early, as funding is limited and awarded based on need and availability.

If you meet at least one of the criteria above, you can apply for a grant by filling out this form.

Fill out one application per Arizona-based FLL team. One coach/mentor/admin can apply for several teams, but please submit one application per team. You can submit applications for FLL Explore and FLL Challenge.

Grants are funded by our generous donors:

Ø  Caris Foundation

Ø  Intel

Ø  Resolution Copper

Ø  Tooker Family Foundation


Thursday, May 8, 2025

FIRST AGE Season Reveal & Summer Opportunities

2025-2026 SEASON REVEAL IS ONE FOR THE AGES!


Save the date for the 2025/2026 Season Kickoff on September 6 where we will unveil the new game "DECODE" presented by RTX! 

RSVP to attend Kickoff HERE -- we are also looking for proposals for workshops!

CONGRATS TO ALL THE FIRST Teams representing Arizona and the Four Corners on the world stage!

The FIRST World Championship wrapped up a couple of weeks ago in Houston. Congrats to all the AZ Teams that competed: 

  • FLL: 
    • It's Going to Be OK: Robot Design Award Finalists
  • FTC:
    • Techalongs
    • BMS Rez Kids
    • Rocksisaan
    • Metal Masters: Ochoa division Alliance 7 Captain & 3rd Place Innovate Award
    • Hexadecimal Nibble: 1st pick of Ochoa division Alliance 5

  • FRC: 
    • Sabercats
    • Team 8-Bit:1st pick of Daly Division Alliance 4
    • Launch Team
    • Degrees of Freedom
    • Cobra Commanders: Galileo Division winning alliance
    • CocoNuts: Milstien Division Engineering Inspiration Award

FTC Premier Events:

Good luck to the 8 teams that are competing in Premier events this summer!

  • RoboCougars: New England
  • Coltz & Boltz: Chicago
  • Beep Patrol: Canadian Rockies
  • Testing is Optional: Canadian Rockies
  • Herberger Javalinas: Europe
  • BroncoBots ONE: Indiana
  • Valley X: Indiana
  • Wolves: Kentucky

FOUR CORNERS COMPUTER SCIENCE TRAINING - NAU

You are invited to the third annual 4 Corners Computer Science Convening! The planning committee excitedly invites all K-12 educators and administrators who work directly with Native students to join us for our three-day free conference focusing on computer science education for Indigenous students, hosted by Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ June 22-24, 2025. Please find the flyer attached and feel free to share with your networks. Together, we can make a difference! 

Registration is open! 


We look forward to connecting soon!

Sincerely,

The 4 Corners CS Convening Committee

4cc@indigitize.org


Get Started with Robotics Workshop

1-day Professional Learning July 9, 2025

Ready to Bring Robotics to Your Classroom?

Join our 1-day workshop designed for upper elementary, middle, and high school teachers! Discover LEGO® Spike Prime, explore hands-on robotics, and walk away with standards-aligned lesson plans to launch your own club or classroom program.

 

Cost: Only $150/person, includes lunch. Pay with check or P.O only. 

Contact: Call or email Anne Hamlin, Anne.Hamlin@nau.edu, or REGISTER HERE.


Data Fluency Workshop
3-day Professional Learning June 17-18, 2025 + 1 follow-up day in the fall*
 
This professional learning introduces place-based, data-rich strategies to support data fluency. Individuals with data fluency are confident and able to use and make sense of data, knowing when, how, and why to use data for a specific purpose such as solving problems and communicating ideas. In a place-based approach, learning is anchored in authentic engagement with local phenomena, physical landscapes, and connections to cultures and communities.
Cost: Only $525/person** (regularly $1,000) for three days, thanks to generous support from the CSTL and a NASA grant. Includes transportation from NAU to Hat Ranch on June 17 and lunch daily. 

Contact: Call or email Lauren Shollenberger, 928-523-9079, lauren.shollenberger@nau.edu

Model Based Inquiry Introduction Workshop
1-day Professional Learning June 24, 2025

This professional learning is an introduction to a model-based inquiry (MBI) framework for designing NGSS-aligned science units. Practical strategies for and practice in constructing a unit are included. Join us to deepen your understanding of MBI or enhance your knowledge of the MBI curriculum design process!

This professional learning is an introduction to a model-based inquiry framework for designing NGSS-aligned science units, including:

  • core principles of the MBI framework and Ambitious Science Teaching
  • engaging students in the practices of science
  • keeping track of student ideas using public records
  • assessing student thinking
  • strategies and resources for constructing a unit
Cost: $150/person includes MBI book and lunch.

Contact: Call or email Lori Rubino-Hare, 928-523-6008, lori.hare@nau.edu    
*See registration form for more info.

Youth Engineering Solutions STEM Leader Institute
2.5 day professional learning July 17-19, 2025

This professional learning will introduce the Museum of Science's Youth Engineering Solutions Curriculum for elementary and middle school. The curriculum promotes students to tackle real-world problems, scaffolded by an age-appropriate engineering design process. Challenges channel students' creativity and engage them in engineering and science practices. As they engineer, students use science and computer science concepts and tools, thus deepening their understanding of these disciplines.

This workshop goes beyond learning the curriculum. Participants will gain the skills and resources to lead professional learning workshops of their own. The workshop includes facilitation tips, strategies, and support to confidently share these units and engineering learning framework with other educators.
Learn more about YES: yes.mos.org.
Cost: $375/person, includes lunch each day. 

Contact: Call or email Lori Rubino-Hare, 928-523-6008, lori.hare@nau.edu

poster for Engineering Youth Camps

NEW: Game Jam