To start our year, each team member chooses which departments will be their focus of study. Each of our departments provides unique experiences and knowledge. Engineering, our most popular department, works on designing and building various physical elements robot or otherwise. Software works on developing code for a variety of features such as automating the robot, creating image recognition, and designing code so the robot can drive. Our last major department is Business which works to find and apply for grants, manage our money, and work on branding/aesthetics.

Starting in early January, every competing FIRST FRC team is given a challenge in the form of a game that must be accomplished with a robot designed and built by the team and the students in it. Each team is given roughly 6 weeks, ending in late February, to build their own robot with each member using the knowledge they gained during curriculum to help build the robot. During build season, members are not expected to be there every day and there will be a schedule published for each department for when members are expected to show up. The most up to date meeting information can be found at our Calendar.

After build season, our team will be participating in a minimum of 2 district competitions events, with the possibility to qualify for more based on the performance of both our team and robot. Families are encouraged to come to our competition events to provide support and cheer us on when we take the field.

Building and competing with the robot aren't the only focus of the club. In fact it is only the focus point of our mission as a FIRST team. When we're not building robots we're searching out opportunities to participate in our community and educate people about S.T.E.(A).M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, (Art), and Math). There will be plenty of events that members will be able to attend during our off-season ranging from visiting other schools to helping in fundraising events. But that doesn't mean we don't stop trying to learn as much as we can about engineering and technology. Alongside lots of outreach opportunities, members can participate in a much more relaxed atmosphere as we give ourselves new challenges and work on ideas to further our understanding.

Team Calendar

ironriders.org/calendar

All team events, locations, and times should be present on the calendar.

Presentation Links

• 2022 - 2023 Orientation Presentation [link] (October 2023)
• 2022 - 2023 Competition Briefing Presentation [link] (March, 2023)

Off-Campus Location Information

• North End FRC Practice Field [link]
  20000 28th Ave W
  Lynnwood, WA 98036
• Sammamish High School [link]
  100 140th Ave SE
  Bellevue, WA 98005
  (Competition Event Location March 24-26)
• Auburn High School [link]
  711 E Main St
  Auburn, WA 98002
  (Competition Event Location March 31-April 2)

Our leadership and coaches are always willing to answer any questions you have. These listed e-mails will connect you to the various leads and coaches our team has. Each lead works on different parts of the club so to get a quicker and/or more accurate response, have an idea of which lead will be appropriate for your question. If you're unsure e-mail either the Team Captain or Communications/VP.

Coaches: [email protected] (Karl Ruff and John Luetke)

Leads: [email protected]

Throughout the year your student will have to fill out forms and other paperwork in order to participate on the team. Copies of these forms will be sent to out as necessary either home with your student or via email to those on the email list. If a form needs to be complete, and you don't have it, you can find it below.

• Emergency Medical Info Sheet
• first-youth-team-member-paperwork
• Copy of Student Transportation Agreement FIRST

IMPORTANT BELOW:

All students on the team MUST complete registration with FIRST [link] in order to be allowed to attend our competition events.