Classroom
Robots competiting

Overview

Thanks to a generous grant from Google.org we are able offer this professional development workshop for new and veteran coaches. Local instructors will lead to what it is sure to be great combination of learning and fun in the spirit of FIRST programs. Veteran coaches and mentors will learn new methods for enhancing the experience and success of their teams. New coaches and mentor will get a running start at the upcoming season with plenty of hands-on activities.

  • Dates: Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8, 2025
  • Location: Beaverton, Oregon

Professional Development Certificates will be issued by ORTOP upon request.

Goals

Prepare coaches and mentors for an upcoming season.

  • Connect coaches and mentors with each other. Future connections for future questions.
  • Educate attendees about recent or new changes.
  • Expand the knowledge base of attendees.
  • Have participants go through a mini-season with build & programming sessions and a miniature tournament.
  • Share what is expected of coaches and mentors.
  • Be as interactive as possible.

    Additional Information

    Hotel and mileage stipend available to those traveling over 50 miles. Contact us with any questions.

    See the draft session schedules below for more information.

    Session Schedules

    Thursday, August 7, 2025 Activities
    8:30am-9:00am Check-in: Coffee, tea and continental breakfast items
    9:00am-9:30am Introductory activities
    9:30am-10:00am Being an Effective Coach & Mentor – Lightning Talk
    10:00-10:45am “Things I Know Now, that I wished I knew earlier” – Global Café style

    What are some of your favorite Resources?
    10:45am-11:00am Break
    11:00am-11:30am The Best Resource: Each Other! Quick rotation discussions among participants.
    11:30am-12:15pm How to Prepare for a Judge interview and do Outreach
    12:15-1:00pm Lunch – Vernier tour
    1:00-3:00pm Robot Season in a Nutshell – Session #1

    • Divide into predetermined teams
    • Decide on a name and cheer
    • Learn about the “challenge”
    • Start from robot that is partially built
    • Complete the robot for the challenge
    3:00-3:30pm Break
    3:15-4:00pm Hands-on: Programing using FTC Blocks
    4:00-4:45pm Test the robot and it’s new programs
    Friday, August 8, 2025 Activities
    8:00am-8:30 am Coffee, tea and continental breakfast items
    8:30am-9:00am How to create an autonomous program
    8:30am-10:45am Robot Season In a Nutshell: Session #2

    Teams will continue to begin to assemble an engineering portfolio while programming their robot for the autonomous period and testing it out.
    10:45-11am Break
    11:00am-Noon Oregon Tournament Model. Youth Protection Program.
    Noon-12:30pm Lunch provided
    12:30-1:30pm Simulation of Judge Interviews
    1:30-2:15pm Tips four Managing a Robotics Team
    2:15-3:00pm Robot Season In a Nutshell: Session #3

    Teams will have time to prepare their robot for the competition.
    3:00 pm-4:45 pm Robot Season In a Nutshell: Session #4

    Informal Competition
    4:45pm-5:00pm Session Wrap-up and Evaluation