What is FRC?
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
La Canada Engineering Club 2429
Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. We call FIRST Robotics Competition the ultimate Sport for the Mind. High-school student participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have.”
Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.
The First Robotics Competition (FRC) is an international high school robotics competition. Each year, teams of high school students and mentors work during a six-week period to build game-playing robots that weigh up to 120 pounds. Robots complete tasks such as scoring balls into goals, flying discs into goals, inner tubes onto racks, hanging on bars, and balancing robots on balance beams. The game changes yearly, keeping the excitement fresh and giving each team a more level playing field. The goal of the program is to inspire students to be science and technology leaders.
The La Cañada Engineering Club operates within this competition as team 2429, and regularly competes in cities such as Los Angeles, Ventura, and Las Vegas. FRC Team 2429 is the heart and centerpoint of the La Cañada Engineering Club. Started during the 2007 – 2008 competition year, the team offers its members ground-level education in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, a variety of programming languages, electronics, and welding, and is an opportunity to expand and grow through hands-on team-building experiences. The team meets every day after school and on most Saturdays.
Game Season Starts in January of each year. FIRST will announce the challenge for the season with game video, rules and more.
To get more Official FIRST FRC Game information, click on the FIRST FRC Logo.
FAQ
WHEN?
Starting after the Kick-Off, the FRC team meets after school every day between 4-6 pm and on Weekends 10 am -5 pm for work on a research project, practice, and final robot construction, programming, and mission design. OPEN ENROLLMENT Begins MAY 15th at 10am. Please visit REGISTRATION page for details.
PARTICIPANTS, REGISTRATION
TC TEAM – Grades 9-12 with approximately 30 team members, at least 1 Parent Mentor, and at least 1 LCEC High School Student Mentor.
STEP 1
TO SIGN-UP go to the REGISTER Page for more information to enroll.
Create account at LCEC.Helloclub.com then complete an FRC Team Application in hello club.
STEP 2
Once assigned to the team and is ready to compete (prior to competition), EACH member and Parent must create a FIRST INSPIRES Account and complete both the registration and Consent Forms (see below for the link). Besides FIRST Registration that needs to be completed, complete the club registrations for the student (2025-2026 LCEC Enrollment opens May 15 2025, FLL Registration Begins May 15th 2025).
Register yourself on the Official FIRST Website (FIRST INSPIRES – COMING SOON) for a new FIRST account, not your child. Enter your name, email address, and birthdate, not your child’s. You will be able to add your child and apply to a team under the Parent/Guardian – Youth tab on your dashboard after your account has been created. Once completed, please search the Team Number to join the roster, FTC 5921. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or text 626-605-2429.
COST
LCEC and its programs are NOT funded by LCUSD. However, donated lab fees and Family and Company Donations help support ALL Programs. For example, FRC Team robot parts and costs to compete at regionals, not including any traveling expenses, are $15,000 per team. Please help and pay the lab fee in your Hello Club Account if you would like to be a Sponsor and be recognized as part of our LCEC Family Support (Click Here).
WHERE?
La Cañada Engineering Club’s workshop at La Cañada High School, room 604, pass the North GYM.
COMPETITIONS?
The competitions begin in March and take place on the weekends at various locations around the USA through April.
Each season concludes with regional championship events and an exciting FIRST Championship in April.
