Everybody has to be able to participate in a future that they want to live for. That’s what technology can do.
Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST
FIRST® inspires young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership. With four unique programs, FIRST is the world’s leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM education.
Virginia + DC FIRST® LEGO® League and FIRST® Chesapeake work together to deliver quality K-12 STEM programming to the Virginia and Washington D.C. region!

Grades 2 – 4
Captures young curiosity by exploring real-world scientific challenges, learning teamwork, and working with motorized LEGO® elements.

Grades 4-8
Elementary/ middle school-aged students research a real-world challenge, develop a solution, & compete with LEGO-based robots of their own design.

Grades 6-12
Teams of middle/ high school-aged students are challenged to design, build, and program a robot to play a floor game against other teams’ creations.

Grades 9-12
High school-aged teams with the help of mentors compete head to head on a special playing field with robots they have designed, built, and programmed.
Thank you to our amazing sponsors!
Find out how your organization can make an impact today!