What is FTC?
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is an international competition for students in grades 7-12 to design, build, program, and operate robots in a ten-week build period and compete in a head-to-head challenge (FIRST). Students, with the help of coaches, mentors, and volunteers, develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles. Teams start their journey at local competitions and slowly build their way up to the FIRST FTC World Championship, block by block. At these competitions, FIRST awards teams who embody essential values, such as “Gracious Professionalism™, teamwork, creativity, innovation, and the value of the engineering design process. The ultimate goal of this program is to inspire the next generation by providing accessible opportunities that help students discover the excitement and rewards of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
Game Season Starts in September of each year. FIRST will announce the challenge for the season with game video, rules and more.
FAQ
WHAT?
The La Cañada Engineering Club hosts three FTC teams: Team 5921, Team 21525, and Team 23838. Separated by age/grade group.
WHEN?
Starting in September, FTC teams meet after school on select days* between 3:30-5:30 pm to work on a research project, robot construction, programming, and mission design. Open Enrollment begins August 16th 10am, please see the REGISTER Page for details.
WHERE?
La Cañada Engineering Club’s workshop at La Cañada High School, room 604, pass the North GYM.
PARTICIPANTS, REGISTRATION
EACH TEAM – Youth grades 7-12 with approximately 15 team members, at least 1 Parent Mentor, and at least 1 LCEC High School Student Mentor. Once the team is ready to compete, EACH member and Parent must create a FIRST INSPIRES Account and complete both the registration and Consent Forms (see below for link). Besides FIRST Registration that needs to be completed, complete the club registrations for the student (LCEC).
Register yourself on the Official FIRST Website (FIRST INSPIRES – CLICK HERE) 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, Either FTC 5921 to FTC 23838 or FTC 21525. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or text 626-605-24294.
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, FTC Team robot parts and costs to compete up to regionals, not including any traveling expense, is $3200 per team ($9600). Please help and pay the lab fee (Click Here) if you would like to be a Sponsor and be recognized as part of our LCEC Family Support (Click Here).
COMPETITIONS?
The competitions begin in November and take place on the weekends at various locations around Southern California through January. The Los Angeles Regional Championship is in March. Each season concludes with regional championship events and an exciting FIRST Championship in April. See schedule below.
Team Meetings and Workshop Schedule
23838
Beta Blockheads
grades 7-8
Workshop Schedule
Mondays and Fridays*
Contacts:
FTC Director, Arshan Soltanzadeh [email protected]
LCEC Program Director, & Mentor, Brian Mendoza [email protected]
5921
La Cañada Engineering Club
grades 9-11*
Workshop Schedule
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays*
Contacts:
FTC Director, Olivia Deng [email protected]
LCEC Program Director & Mentor, Brian Mendoza [email protected]
21525
Blockheads2
grades 10-11*
Workshop Schedule
Wednesdays and Thursdays*
Contacts:
FTC Director, Milo Lin [email protected]
LCEC Program Director & Mentor, Brian Mendoza [email protected]
FTC Game Season Kick-off
Dates
- Meet 0, Saturday October 26th at La Canada HS
- Meet 1, Saturday November 16th at La Canada HS
- Meet 2, Saturday December 14th at La Canada HS
- Meet 3, Saturday January 4th at La Canada HS
- Inter-League Tournament (ILT) Sunday February 2nd at Perris High School
- February 16th at Monrovia HS (Mandatory Host, not compete)
- February 23rd Wildcard Tournament
- SoCal FTC State Championships, March 8th 2025 at LCHS (pending)
- World Championships, April 2025 at Houston TX
LIVE Stream
- Inter-League Tournament:
- Regional Championships:
- World Championships:
Ranking
- Inter-League Tournament:
- Regional Championships:
- World Championships:
