FIRST Tech Challenge

6th - 8th Grade

To learn more about how Michigan determines the level of progression through the program, check out FIRST in Michigan.

The premier middle school sport where teams of students, guided by mentors, design and build 18”X18” robots to battle in a FIRST designed game in a contest of ingenuity and innovation.

Design. Build. Program.

All coaches are volunteer parents/guardians. Anyone who is interested in supporting kids and learning new things with them is qualified to be a coach! Sign up to coach or mentor a team HERE.

All parents are asked to donate a portion of time to support the team, whether it's to help keep the kids on task or to work on a specific project. The more parents are involved, the more successful the kids are!

We ask that kids bring their own refillable water bottle to practice and have a snack/meal before arriving, rather than spending valuable team working time on snacking.

Common Questions

  • The Challenge level will begin the week after school starts, with the 2024 season starting the week of September 9, 2024. The season ends for the Challenge level at their competition, which will be determined in early October. Generally this is either the weekend before Thanksgiving or the first weekend in December. The competition is usually on a Saturday from 7:30am - 5pm. Should a team advance to the State competition, that will likely be the second or third weekend in December on a Saturday or Sunday

  • Practices are held once per week in the evening and last approximately 1.5 hours. Bedford hosts as many as 6 teams per year, so the day of practice and exact start time is determined by the volunteer coaches. It is entirely possible that additional practices may be scheduled to get the team ready for competition. NOTE: The more parent involvement with the team from the beginning of the season, the less likely extensive additional practices will be needed.

  • Bedford Robotics Center at Smith Road Elementary School, 1135 Smith Rd, Temperance, MI. All students should be brought into the school through the brown "gym" door and walked to their space. The Challenge kids meet in a classroom across the hall from the gym space. Parents are expected to come in to pick up their kids. *NEW THIS YEAR! For security purposes, the entry door may at times be locked. There is a doorbell to the right of the door that you can press and someone will come let you in. Please have patience with us as we work through this new procedure.

  • Teams are formed and parents are notified as soon as we secure volunteer coaches to form the number of teams that match our registration numbers. Ideally this will be sent out no later than early August.

  • This happens all the time as many other activities that kids participate in do not have their schedules in place until their seasons begin also. Send an email to the program coordinator (Jodi Russ jodi.russ@mybedford.us) with your child's name, grade, and what days they are available as soon as you know this and your registration form can be adjusted.

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