If you are interested in supporting youth robotics programs in Arkansas and/or you need some volunteer hours, the First-Year Engineering Program needs your help to support several robotics tournaments for students across our state! 

What is FIRST Robotics? 

• FIRST is a trademarked global nonprofit organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of life-changing youth robotics programs that build skills, confidence and resilience.   
• FIRST LEGO League (FLL) introduces STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to elementary and middle school age children through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program using LEGO technology, helping today's students, families and educators build a better future together.  
• FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) continues to inspire STEM in middle school and high school students. Teams work together with their mentors to design and build robots to compete in dynamic and exciting challenges each year. Teams program classroom-scale robots to follow autonomous commands before student drivers take control in two-on-two matches. On and off the field, students develop STEM skills, engage in community outreach, practice engineering innovation and build confidence to help them succeed. 

How you can help?

We need volunteers to serve in key roles such as judges and referees. These roles require some training before the event. We also need general tournament support such as checking in teams and overseeing the practice fields. These roles do not require any prior knowledge or training, and you can choose to volunteer for the entire event or just part of the day.  

Volunteer Opportunities

FLL Tournaments 

• Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at the Don Tyson School of Innovation in Springdale 

• Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in the Arkansas Union in Fayetteville 

FTC Tournaments 

• Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Mountain Home Junior High in Mountain Home  

• Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, at the Thaden School in Bentonville  

• Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at Holland Chapel Baptist Church in Benton 

• Friday and Sat., Feb. 21-22, 2025, at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale  

 Ready to Volunteer?

1. Create an account on the firstinspires.org dashboard and log in.  
2. Click the Volunteer Registration tab and click Event Volunteering.  
3. In the Event Filters, choose FIRST LEGO League or FIRST Tech Challenge, United States, and Arkansas. Then, click Apply Filters.  
4. Choose the event of interest by clicking Volunteer.  
5. Mark that you are available on the Event Day. You do not need to specify any availability times or details. Most tournaments are one day only. However, please note that the FTC Championship will take place on Friday evening and all day Saturday. Key volunteers (judges, referees, FTA, scorekeeper) will be required to attend both days. Tournament support can apply for either or both dates. 
6. Choose as many as five roles.  

• All Day Tournament Support Role, Assign me as needed, Assistant Judge Advisor, Judge, Assistant Head Referee, Referee, FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA) and Lead Scorekeeper are all-day roles (8 a.m. - 6 p.m.). Lunch is provided to all-day volunteers. Drinks and snacks are provided to all volunteers.   
• Morning Tournament Support Role is a half-day role (8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.). Lunch is not provided to half-day volunteers, but drinks and snacks are provided to all volunteers.  
• Afternoon Tournament Support Role is a half-day role (12:30-6 p.m.). Lunch is not provided to half-day volunteers, but drinks and snacks are provided to all volunteers.  
• Friday Tournaments Support Role is a half-day role (5-10 p.m.) for the FTC Championship Tournament only. Dinner is not provided, but drinks and snacks are provided to all volunteers.  
• The roles that require pre-event training are Judge, Referee, FTA and Scorekeeper.  

7. Click Next.  
8. If you are affiliated with any FIRST teams, add their team numbers to your volunteer application.  
9. Click Complete.  
10. Click Begin Youth Protecting Screening. Screening is required to volunteer at a FIRST Robotics Event. 

If you have any questions contact Leslie Massey (lbmassey@uark.edu) or Aysa Galbraith (agalbrai@uark.edu).