07.19.24 Team Eblast

BAE Systems Grant open, due 7/19  l  CENTERSTAGE Clearance  l  Rookie Team Grants  l  99h State Grant Approved! l  Season Kickoff  l  Grants  l  Purchasing Game Elements  l  Game Manual Revamp   l  Fall Season Timeline  l  Register for the Season  l  Program Links

BAE SYSTEMS GRANT – JULY 19 DUE DATE

FIRST HQ just shared this info and time is short! BAE Systems has opened their FIRST team grant application for the 2024-25 season. You can find it on the team grants page (https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/team-grants),

The application direct link: https://survey.vovici.com/se/0C8A91250CA6941F

The criteria below will be considered during the review process, however they are not a guarantee of funding, nor does the absence of these criteria disqualify a team from receiving BAE funding.

  • Teams located within 75 miles of a BAE Systems site (see application for a list of our locations).
    • Michigan BAE Systems locations are Detroit, E. Lansing, Harrison, Lansing, Macomb, Sterling Hts., Traverse City.
  • Teams with BAE Systems mentors; if you are interested in having a BAE Systems mentor, please tell us in your application so we can do our best to match you.
  • Teams with an existing relationship with BAE Systems
  • Teams demonstrating diversity in STEM (meeting one of the criteria below):
    • Teams affiliated with Title 1 schools
    • Teams with high needs (more than 50% free/reduced lunch rates at affiliated school)
    • Teams made up of more than 50% underrepresented populations in STEM fields (women, LGBTQ+ youth, BIPOC and Latinx  students, youth with disabilities)
    • Teams with exemplary community outreach to underrepresented populations

DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSION:

  • FLL: 11:59pm EST July 19
  • FTC: 11:59pm EST July 19 (Please note, we will have a limited amount of grants available specifically for rookie FTC teams. Rookie FTC teams can apply with the FRC deadline of 9/13.)
  • FRC: 11:59 pm EST September 13 (Though you are welcome to apply early, all FRC teams will receive notification of their grant application status in the fall).
CENTERSTAGE PARTS CLEARANCE

It’s that time of year when we clear out the previous season’s game elements to get ready for the new! We will be giving away CENTERSTAGE game elements on Saturday, July 27th 10am-2pm (one day only) at our Farmington Hills trailer location. Items are available on a first come, first served basis.

Available items are pixels (variety of colors), backdrops, and trusses. The backdrop and truss components would make great prototyping material! Bring along a grocery bag for “pixel picking”.

Fill out the linked form if you or someone you designate will be stopping by to pick up some of these elements. Form: https://forms.gle/jgdja3fZ2ZJdMKhu8

Bob Van Ham, our FiM FTC Logistics Director, will email to confirm and share the pick up location directions. Email Bob directly with any questions: bobvanham@gmail.com.

ROOKIE TEAM GRANTS OVERVIEW

FIRST HQ and FIRST in Michigan each offer rookie FTC team grants. Follow all 3 steps outlined on the START A ROOKIE TEAM WITH GRANTS site page to maximize the use of available grants. Note that all veteran teams from a given school/org. must be registered for the current season before a new team can be eligible for the rookie grants.

  • FIRST HQ FTC Rookie Team Grant: $750 and will cover the team’s $295 season registration fee and provide $455 towards the team’s reusable robot kit of parts purchased through the FTC Storefront. This grant prioritizes funding teams with economic challenges.
  • FIRST in Michigan FTC Rookie Team Grant works with the HQ grant and will cover the remaining cost for a newly forming school-based team’s reusable robot kit of parts purchase. If the team wishes to purchase an alternative FTC compliant robot build kit versus what is offered through the FTC Storefront (i.e. goBilda, Robits), FiM FTC will reimburse the cost up to the comparable FTC Storefront build kit cost (i.e. REV build kit) accompanied by appropriate receipts.
    • Also includes one partial set of AndyMark FTC INTO THE DEEP game elements when a new middle school FTC team forms in a school that has never had a team. The limit is one partial set of game elements per new school. The intent is that multiple new teams will share the partial set of game elements i.e. shared practice field.
    • Google.org Sponsorship: FiM FTC has an ongoing partnership with Google.org in support of newly forming middle school FTC teams in schools that are new to FTC. If your new middle school FTC team is in an under-resourced locale, has a high economically disadvantaged index (previously free/reduced lunch percentage), or includes students who have been traditionally underrepresented in STEM, email tammy@firstinmichigan.org about becoming a Google.org sponsored team.

FiM also has comparable FLL-Challenge (Upper Elementary) rookie team grants! Reach out to angela@firstinmichigan.org for more information.

2024-25 99h STATE GRANT APPROVED!

The 99h state grant has been approved for 2024-25 and includes funding for public and non-public school affiliated teams! More info will be shared once we meet with the MDE. It is anticipated that the 99h grant will open for application through the MDE’s NexSys system on October 1.

Teams included on a district’s/school’s 99h grant application must be registered and paid for the 2024-25 season before the grant closes for application to be eligible for grant consideration. Stay tuned for more info!

2023-24 FTC SEASON KICKOFF SEPT. 7

The 2023-2024 FTC season will officially kick off on Sept. 7, 12:00PM (noon) with the reveal of the season’s new game, INTO THE DEEP! FIRST Tech Challenge teams will dive their robots into the depths of the ocean to explore the unknown and reveal its wonders.

To date, there are 15 kickoff events in various locations around the state. While attending a kickoff event is optional for teams, it is highly encouraged. These events offer workshops, info sessions, and ALL will feature a “reveal” of the INTO THE DEEP official playing field! Most importantly, kickoff events provide the priceless opportunity to connect with your local FIRST community for ongoing support.

Visit the EVENTS FiM FTC site page for a list of area FTC kickoff events including sign-up information. Sign-up is done directly with the event host and not with FIRST in Michigan FTC. Check back to the site page for updates.

If you don’t quite have a team formed yet, coaches and/or prospective coaches are welcome to sign-up to attend an area kickoff event. Kickoff events are free of charge to attendees.

PURCHASING GAME ELEMENTS

Teams can pre-order a partial or full set of INTO THE DEEP game elements directly from AndyMark, an official FIRST vendor. Great use for any remaining 2023-24 season funding!

If you are a rookie in 2024-25 and are the first FTC team ever at your school the FiM FTC Rookie Team Grant will provide a partial set of INTO THE DEEP game elements to you as part of the FiM FTC Rookie Team Grant. The order will take place after the Sept. 7 game reveal.

Teams can order game elements, perimeter, SoftTile mats through the FTC Storefront as well. These purchases are optional for teams. The FIRST HQ FTC site has DIY perimeter plans as a more cost-effective option.

2024-25 FIM FTC FALL SEASON TIMELINE

The FiM FTC EVENTS page has the 2024-25 season competition timeline listed (scroll past kickoff). A preliminary list of fall season events will be posted by mid August.

This year’s calendar is challenging with Thanksgiving on 11/28 and the 12/7-8 States-SE limited venue availability. Qualifying events will likely start a week earlier than in previous seasons to accommodate the needed number of qualifiers/league tournaments.

Event registration is anticipated to open on Sept. 25th. For FTC, event registration is done at the local level with FIRST in Michigan via a Google form shared with the Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2. Visit FTC EVENT PROCESS for details.

The anticipated FiM FTC season timeline is as follows:

  • May 15: FiM FTC season registration opens
  • Sept. 7: FTC season kickoff and game reveal
  • Sept. 25: Round 1 (home) event registration opens
  • Oct 19: Earliest date league meets can begin
  • Oct. 26: Fall qualifying events begin
  • Dec. 7-8: FiM FTC State Championship-SE at Macomb Community College, Warren (Sat/Sun event).
  • Dec. 13-14 FiM FTC State Championship-NW at Trinity Health Arena, Muskegon (Fri/Sat event)
FTC GAME MANUAL REVAMP

New this season, there will be a single FTC Game Manual rather than the usual two. The first release of the newly dubbed “Competition Manual” will be available Wednesday, July 31, at 12:00pm on the Game and Season site page https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/ftc/game-and-season-info.

Read more about this in the HQ FTC Blog: https://community.firstinspires.org/important-season-update-game-manual-changes?utm_campaign=ftc-partner-blast-024&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8DeA7bBUoyLG4iA4_uPFhz4vY6brFEABOvRJ_51c0gjLHZOTjKyuMFTPyGtt6kziAxCNujJ8lxzrL-M5rhi324AHT9Hg&_hsmi=316164976&utm_content=316164976&utm_source=hs_email.

GRANTS

Stay tuned to the FIRST HQ Grants site page as well as the FiM FTC site Grants page for available team grants.

REGISTERING YOUR TEAM FOR THE SEASON

Team registration for the 2024-25 season is open! The $295 season registration fee can be paid via the FTC Storefront accessible from the Team Dashboard through firstinspires.org.

It is key to register your team right away so that enough events are planned in support. Teams must be fully registered for the current season in order to register for FiM FTC competitions.

New Teams

New Teams (rookies) – FIRST HQ will once again have their FTC Rookie Team Grant available which will open in early June! This grant works with the FIRST in Michigan FTC Rookie Team Grant to 100% cover a newly forming FTC team’s first season registration fee and reusable kit of parts purchase. New this season, FIRST HQ will only review rookie grants once per month. Factor that into your planning  i.e. start a new team sooner versus later if possible!

Visit the START A ROOKIE TEAM site page for the steps to get your new team rolling and maximize available grants! Be sure to read the “tips” when applying for the HQ FTC Rookie Grant.

  • Reminder: DO NOT PAY for anything through the FTC Storefront until the FIRST HQ opens for application AND a grant award decision has been received.
  • All veterans out of the same school who were past grant recipients must be registered for the current season before a newly forming team can be eligible for the FIRST HQ and/or FiM FTC Rookie Team Grant.

Returning Teams

Returning Teams (veterans) – Returning teams register with their existing team number. Check the MI Archive FTC Team List (tab 1 & 2) for a list of historical team numbers.

  • Take care of “Outstanding Tasks” on your Dashboard
    • Update the Team Profile, update team contacts as needed, Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 must electronically sign the season’s FIRST Consent/Release form and check that their FIRST Youth Protection Screening is up to date.
    • Instruct any departing team contacts (Team Admin, Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2) to invite their replacements.
  • Veteran Team Registration Guide – contains screenshots of the process.

Dormant Teams

If you were the Team Administrator and/or Lead Coach/Mentor 1 of a team that has been dormant but wants to register for the season and you don’t see your team on your FIRST Account Dashboard anymore, email firsttechchallenge@firstinspires.org and ask them to reactivate your team. Copy me at tammy@firstinmichigan.org. Include your team number in the subject line of the email.

If a dormant team’s past Team Administrator and Lead Coach/Mentor 1 are no longer with the organization and you would like the team to be reactivated, email me at tammy@firstinmichigan.org and I can assist. Please include your team number in the subject line of the email.

Reminder that teams that have been the recipient of the FiM FTC Rookie Team Grant are expected to keep the team number and reusable robot kit of parts in play. Grant sponsors view these funds as seed money for a new team. Team members and coaches may move through the program but the FTC team number and robot kit of parts stay with the affiliated school/501c3 organization for reuse year to year. Otherwise, grant funds and/or the robot kit of parts in their entirety must be returned to FIRST in Michigan.

If your team has been dormant for more than 3 years, the team could be eligible for a veteran “gear up” grant to cover the cost of the REV Control Hub and REV Driver Hub. Reach out to tammy@firstinmichigan.org to learn more.

FTC PROGRAM INFORMATION
Lots of resources linked below but don’t get overwhelmed. You don’t need them all now.