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Explorer Post Rocketry Team
FIRST LEGO League competition

Join a Team!

Being part of a team is a great way for children and teens

to experience immersive learning and

challenge themselves to achieve new goals.

The Rockville Science Center provides support

to a number of engineering teams

under the umbrellas of Explorer Post 1010 and FIRST

(For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology).

 

You can learn more about each of these teams below.

Sign up takes place in late summer/early fall.

Information Sessions for Fall

  • Explorer Post 1010 Open House
    Explorer Post 1010 Open House
    Wed, Sep 13
    Rockville Science Center
    Sep 13, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Rockville Science Center, 36C Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
    Sep 13, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Rockville Science Center, 36C Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
    High school students interested in engineering or robotics are invited to come learn about RSC's Explorer Post teams
  • Explorer Post 1010 Open House
    Explorer Post 1010 Open House
    Sat, Sep 09
    Rockville Science Center
    Sep 09, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Rockville Science Center, 36C Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
    Sep 09, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Rockville Science Center, 36C Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
    High school students interested in engineering or robotics are invited to come learn about RSC's Explorer Post teams
  • Info Session: Student Robotics Teams & Other Programs
    Info Session: Student Robotics Teams & Other Programs
    Thu, Aug 31
    Rockville Science Center Makerspace
    Aug 31, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Rockville Science Center Makerspace, 33F Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
    Aug 31, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Rockville Science Center Makerspace, 33F Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
    A meeting for parents, teachers and students (3rd grade - 12th grade) interested in learning about RSC's programs this fall.

Explorer Post 1010 

Rockville Science Center sponsors the coed Explorer Post 1010, organized under the National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. Post 1010 is a group of around 40 high school students with interests in computers, robotics, rockets, and engineering.

 

Participants meet weekly in teams to prepare for competitions in one of four national programs (see below). Historically, Post 1010 teams have done very well, winning high-level tournaments and receiving many awards. 

 

REGISTRATION:

Registration  takes place in the fall with a recruiting open house in early September. Each team has an adult coach, but the teams are led and run by the teens. For most members, it is a four year commitment. Dues are required to cover the cost of registration and equipment. Many of the national competition events require travel out of the state.  Transportation costs are covered by participants.

More information about Post 1010 projects may be found at the Post 1010 website: post1010.org.

 

To join Post 1010, email us at info@post1010.org or call Bob Ekman, Advisor, 301-512-1278

Explorer Post FTC Team
Explorer Post Rocketry Team
Explorer Post Robotics Team

First Tech Challenge
(FTC)

In First Tech Challenge students build, program, test and document a robot to complete autonomously and remotely operated in a scored game field.

The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC)

TARC team members are challenged

to build and fly a mid-size rocket

to a specific altitude and

return to the ground

in a specific time period.

Botball® Educational Robotics

The Botball program requires students

to build, program, test and document

two robots to compete autonomously

in a scored game field.

UAS4STEM (Unmanned Aerial System) 

The UAS4STEM program

requires students to build and fly

a mid-size quad-copter

through a competition course

in a limited time.

FIRST LEGO League

FIRST LEGO League is an international competition organized by FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) for elementary and middle school students (ages 9–14). Each year in August, FIRST LEGO League introduces a scientific and real-world challenge for teams to focus and research. During the fall and into the winter, teams meet at least once a week for about 3 hours.

REGISTRATION:

Teams must register with the national program by the end of September (https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/fll/). Two parents need to be identified as coaches for the team. Registration and equipment costs are covered by the participants.

Rockville Science Center supports Rockville-area participants in the following ways:

 

  • In August, we gather the names of adults and students who are interested in participating in the upcoming year’s competition, and facilitate sharing of this information to help the formation of local teams.

 

  • In September, we loan out RSC-owned FLL robotics kits and boards to those teams who don’t already have the equipment. We also loan parts and provide assistance as we are able throughout the preparation period (September-December).

 

  • In December and January, we hold scrimmages for local teams to practice for competition.

 

  • We host a qualification tournament in January for Maryland teams.

FIRST LEGO League scrimmage
Girls competing at a FLL tournament
FLL medal
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