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.
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
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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:
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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.
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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).
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In December and January, we hold scrimmages for local teams to practice for competition.
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We host a qualification tournament in January for Maryland teams.
