Maryland FIRST Programs

Maryland FIRST offers a progression of four programs for youth in grades K to 12, ages 6-18. With assistance from our sponsors, coaches, mentors and friends, FIRST programs challenge and inspire nearly 1,000 students in more than 100 teams across the state each year.

Maryland FIRST offers the following programs.
Learn more and get involved!

	FIRST’s oldest and most intensive program, the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) features teams of approximately 15 - 30 high school students.  Teams work with technology mentors to design and build a robot in six weeks from a kit of common key parts.  Maryland had 26 FRC teams last season.  Maryland's FRC competition, the Chesapeake Regional, is held in March.
	FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a highly accessible design and build competition for high school students age 14 to 18.  Maryland had 24 FTC teams last season, with an average of six students per team.  The Maryland FTC Championship is in December in La Plata, Maryland.
	FIRST LEGO League (FLL) reaches over 100,000 students, ages 9 to 14 in 50 countries with a design and build format utilizing LEGO Mindstorm technologies.  We had more than 80 FLL teams in Maryland last season with an average of five students per team.  Our Maryland FLL State Championship is in January at UMBC in Catonsville, Maryland.
	Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL) reaches students ages 6 to 9 through web-based Jr.FLL expos.  In Maryland, we have about a dozen Jr.FLL teams with an average of four students per team.  The Maryland Jr.FLL Exhibition is in January at UMBC in Catonsville