More than 1,000 young Vermonters in grades K-12 are taking part in the state's latest season of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics teams and competitions.

This programming is co-facilitated by the University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, 4-H at UVM Extension, and the nonprofit FIRST in Vermont.

And with so many FIRST participants, more volunteers are needed for the two final, big events this spring: the FIRST Tech Challenge Championship on March 7 in South Burlington, and the FIRST Robotics Competition New England District Qualifier on April 2-4 at the University of Vermont campus. Both events are open to the general public. 

Technie and non-techie people are welcome to serve as judges, referees, robot inspectors, queuing experts, field resetters and more. Interested volunteers can sign up at the FIRST in Vermont website, www.firstinvermont.org. 

For anyone who hasn't been to a FIRST event before — there are giant fields, items acting as "game pieces," and robots that teams build from scratch to play annually-themed games. One of the themes for this year's games, for instance, plays with the ideas of finding artifacts and unlocking mysteries, and is called "DECODE." 

The robots are different sizes depending on the ages of the participants: cupcake-size for grades preK-8 (FIRST Lego League), cake-size for grades 7-12 (FIRST Technical Challenge), and wedding-cake-size for grades 9-12 (FIRST Robotics Competition). 

Seven young people in clear safety glasses and two adults in black and white striped referee shirts stand around an enclosure, looking at a robot
22 teams from across the state competed at the 2025 Vermont FIRST Tech Challenge, held at South Burlington High School on Feb. 8, 2025. Photo by Chris Dissinger/CEMS.

While FIRST teams are aiming to compete well at events, the bigger purpose is to provide youth with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workforce skills. 

"They're coding, 3D printing, and there's also team management, financial stuff, outreach," said Liz Kenton, who works both for 4-H and oversees the FIRST Technical Challenge program. "There's rules about how you can move around and interact with other robots and with the pieces, and so the kids have to strategize like, is my robot going to be a far shooter, or is it going to be really good at playing defense?" 

Every FIRST robotics participant also receives a manual that outlines the Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition that they're expected to practice. 

"So trying to prepare people to be good teammates in technology and not just smart, but also able to communicate, able to negotiate and just good to work with," Kenton said. 

The skills that FIRST provides young people can eventually lead them to consider STEM career paths.

Last year, Essex High School 12th grader Max Drapa told Across The Fence that participating in FIRST informed the decision to go to college for mechanical engineering. Now Drapa is at UVM, in the College For Engineering and Mathematical Sciences. 

"I've really found my place," Drapa said in the 2025 interview. 

FIRST Tech Challenge State Championship Event Details

WHEN: Saturday, March 7, 2026 

TIME: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: South Burlington High School, 550 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403

COST: Free

QUESTIONS: Email vermont.ftc@uvm.edu

VOLUNTEERING: Sign up at www.firstinvermont.org.

ACCOMMODATIONS: If you require an accommodation related to a disability, please contact UVM Student Accessibility Services at access@uvm.edu or 802-656-7753 as soon as possible.

FIRST Robotics Competition New England District Qualifier Event Details

WHEN/TIME: 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2026 through 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2026

WHERE: Roy L. Patrick Memorial Gymnasium, 97 Spear Street, Burlington, VT 05405

COST: Free

QUESTIONS: Email director@firstinvermont.org

VOLUNTEERING: Sign up at www.firstinvermont.org.

ACCOMMODATIONS: If you require an accommodation related to a disability, please contact UVM Student Accessibility Services at access@uvm.edu or 802-656-7753 as soon as possible.