FIRST
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January 23, 2013
My son and I started our local FIRST LEGO League team after researching many options for character building programs for youth. We landed on FLL because it combined my desire for character building (through its impressive core values) with his desire for something practical and fun.
Our first year has been one of the most exciting, challenging, rewarding, and insane things I have ever done.
I have never seen kids so dedicated to a program that has such practical implications for their future. These kids are learning the basics of robotics, team building, project management, work flow, and visual programming. They are also learning to dream big while still laying out the necessary steps to accomplishing that dream.
As a result of our efforts this year, the local school district is already planning and budgeting to support additional teams next year. We have a five year goal of expanding FIRST in our community to include FLL, FTC, and FRC.
On average, I volunteer 6 hours each week for FIRST. Four of those hours are hands on work with students. Two of those hours involve research and preparation using resources from FIRST and LEGO.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
October 11, 2012
FIRST LEGO League is the worst Non-profit organization that I have ever dealt with. They are rude to their volunteers and claim that the Partners in the state will provide training, medallions, etc. They provide nothing to the volunteers, teams or children. The staff in New Hampshire are incompetent and disorganized. When complaints are made against a partner they do nothing at all. I would not recommend this program to any school or community. It is expensive and does not even come close to meeting all that they claim in their marketing. Save your money and use EARLY robotics or Vex or anything else.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Badly
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
None
Will you recommend this organization to others?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
September 6, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
FIRST is an amazing program that gets high school students to bring together and share their creativity, enthusiasm, hard work, dedication, and incredible smarts to build a robot which competes with other schools around the world. In order to be successful, FIRST team's need several different types of skill sets from the students, ranging from math and engineering skills to build the robots, to business and marketing skills to fundraise and get free parts from companies. One of the best things about FIRST is they don't hold tryouts to be on the team like most high school sports. If you want to be involved and show initiative, then you're on the team! FIRST is one of the best high school programs around that prepares young minds for life after high school. FIRST is paving the way for the next generation of professionals which will one day run this country.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
being part of our companies sponsorship program which provides free parts to FIRST teams and awards 6 scholarships for highschool seniors who are planning on attending college.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I don't know what could be chaged to make this program any better than it already is.
August 26, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
FIRST Robotics Program is involves all 50 states, plus many countries. Its purpose is twofold: 1—Help students to develop 21st century skills that all employers are looking for such as: gracious professionalism (teamwork, leadership, problem solving, learning to work with other people, project management, meeting deadlines, working within a budget, etc.) 2—Get students interested in various careers including those that involve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). They also provide opportunities for students interested in programming, web design, photography, public relations, marketing, creating business plans, team spirit and more. FIRST creates a school-to-career pipeline through which young people are inspired to explore opportunities in science and technology. By successfully forming coalitions with corporations, universities, and public schools, FIRST has become the premiere after-school engineering and robotics competition program in the nation.
The FIRST Robotics Competition began in 1992 with 28 teams in a New Hampshire high school gym. The FIRST LEGO League program was introduced in 1998, followed by both the FIRST Tech Challenge and the Junior FIRST LEGO League in 2007. Today, with the support of thousands of dedicated volunteers, the organization serves 196,000 students not only in asll 50 states, but also in 9 provinces and 38 countries.
Another of the key benefits of the FIRST programs that I have observed, is the proper behaviors it nurtures. Gracious professionalism and cooperation are FIRST’s core values, encouraging participants in all FIRST programs to do their best work. It is not about winning or losing, but working together to achieve a common goal. FIRST programs embrace and encourage students of varying interests, abilities, and academic competencies and foster participation by all youth, regardless of income, gender, ethnicity, or background.
This is a fantastic after school program for all youth--K-12-- to engage in.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Connecticut
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
get more schools and community organizations involved
August 25, 2010
Two years ago I was introduced to a world I never knew existed--the world of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). I was invited to a high-school off-season robotics competition and saw unbridled enthusiasm among the students for learning about and creating robots, employing the disciplines of STEM. I have since observed another key attribute of FIRST: Gracious Professionalism. I see that FIRST is not only fostering a love of STEM, but is also instilling a real sense of citizenship in its participants by encouraging community service, teamwork, sportsmanship, respect for elders and authority, and mentoring of younger students. I have also witnessed how the program has transformed previously undirected youth into focused students with a thirst for obtaining higher education whether in STEM subjects or in Liberal Arts. I do not know of a better after-school program for today's youth and wish I had known about it for my own kids. I am a convert and will be a lifelong volunteer for this organization.
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I wish I could have enrolled my kids, but now I have gotten my whole family involved in volunteering, giving us satisfaction of helping others get the benefits of this program.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the satisfaction of seeing youth inspired by STEM subjects as well as enjoying the entertainment of attending the competitions
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
just as excited about the programs as I am--dedicated, hard-working, sincerely interested in nurturing the love of STEM in youth.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
conduct more of an educational outreach campaign to generate more recognition and participation by school districts
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
May 25, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
you state that the president gets a 229,000 annual salary on this site. And people are ginving it 5 stars? Wow! this blows my mind! Why would you want to donate to give the president a 229k annual salary? I will not give it 5 stars, nor 5.00.
People really need to looks at the profit statements, for the salary's before donating to their favorite charity's.
You may think twice. there are a lot of them out there that do not make these enormous salaries!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
just read about it
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Stop paying the president 229k annual salary
1 person found this review helpful
September 2, 2010
1 person found this review helpful
For over 15 years, I've been involved with numerous activities/programs to encourage engineering at the pre-college level. This program does more to further that cause than any other program. However, it is much broader than that. It provides many kids who follow other paths with a good start in practical technology (in the broad sense of the term), math, science, and, of course, engineering. Many kids have learned they have abilities they were never aware of. It should be in every school.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I've personally talked with many kids to have been 'turned around' by this organization. Many have matured more quickly and leaned professional habits much earlier than their peers. I seen the excitement is brings to learning.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 31, 2010
FIRST is an amazing organization and was just what my son was looking for in an extracurricular activity. My son has always loved science and was looking for more than school offered. We became involved with FIRST robotics when my son was in 4th grade. I became a mentor and worked with some great mentors to help the team find their passion in robotics and science. The students on the team learned to work as a team, to brainstorm and research a problem, build and program a robot, and present their research and solution to a problem in a creative way. I saw all of the students blossom. Their self esteem, organization, perserverance, and sense of community with others interested in science grew through the process of friendly competition through FIRST.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Our family has grown through our experience with FIRST, and my son has found a passion that he plans to pursue as a career. It has been wonderful to see our son find something so fullfilling.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 30, 2010
FIRST offers students a view into the world of science and technology that they may not get in their regular school curriculum. It also emphasizes teamwork, problem-solving, and responsibility. It's amazing to see how the students get so excited and involved in the program.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
seeing students come up with their own ideas and gain knowledge in areas of science and technology.
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The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
very dedicated and helpful.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 30, 2010
FIRST is true to its name -- providing inspiration as well as an exposure to science and technology. Working with engineers and scientists, students learn much more than valuable technical skills. FIRST exposes the student with excitement of discovery, emphasizes team work, and asks every student and every mentor to exercise gracious professionalism. I have seen students grow in confidence and maturity -- looking ahead to careers that contribute to community and country.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have been involved with FIRST since it was an idea. In judging FIRST events, I have heard story after story of how FIRST has given students an added sense of confidence and turned their interests to science and engineering,
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 30, 2010
FIRST offers an incredible opportunity for students of all ages to discover their "hidden" talents in the areas of science and technology. I started two years ago with a small high school team who built what they called their "Ghetto-Bot" and competed in our local regional. This robot was built with chicken-wire, "Duct" tape and plywood, hence the name. Last year I coached, or co-coached a total of four teams, one at each grade level. The excitement and enthusiasm of my students (ages 8 through 17) was awe-inspiring! Some of these kids would have said they didn't know anything about science, or robots, or engineering yet, they managed to design, construct, program and operate a variety of robots. My original team (FRC)constructed a robot that truly looked "space-age" with seperate enclosed compartments for both the electronics and the pnuematics. They even contrived pnuematic shocks for the electronics box! My second high school team (FTC)went all to way to the World Championships after winning our local regional and an "Inovation in Design" award from a major aerospace company! This year we will have two of these teams competing as part of the new Robotics course I am teaching at our high school. My elementary teams are "chomping at the bit" to get started on this year's challenge! I cannot say enough about the level of empowerment this program is offering my students. They are so excited about participating in the program and having their ideas taken seriously that it boggles the mind! Yeah, F.I.R.S.T.!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
... watching my students as they experience success and failure in their own designs; as they grasp new concepts; as they realize they CAN do it; and as they realize many more options for their futures!
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
...the looks on my students faces and the excitement in their voices.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
awesome: dedicated and enthusiastic.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
...open the doors for many more youth!
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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