FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) After School Program - 2025

Programs will run through the length of a typical season in 20 sessions.

Meet once a week from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM, skipping Winter Break weeks.

Build Robots. Build Confidence. Build the Future.

Looking for a powerful way to spark your child's interest in STEM and prepare them for a future shaped by technology? This After-School FTC Robotics Program is a great starting point, especially for students who may not be able to commit to a full competition team due to scheduling, uncertainty, or other constraints.

This 20-session program follows the structure of a typical FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) season, meeting once a week from the week of 9/8 until the week of 2/2, skipping Winter Break (12/22 & 12/29) weeks.

Students will dive into the world of robotics by designing, building, and programming robots to complete exciting missions that follow the current season's FTC game challenges. Along the way, they’ll develop valuable skills in coding, critical thinking, teamwork, and hands-on problem solving.

Each session is led by experienced, stipended educators, with support from QCRA’s peer instructors—current student-athletes from our competitive robotics teams. These peer leaders foster collaborative learning and empower participants to take ownership of their educational journey in a fun, supportive environment.

At QCRA, our mission goes beyond teaching robotics—we aim to ignite creativity, build confidence, and inspire all students to think big and explore their potential.

How is the After-School FTC Program Different from a Regular FTC Team?

• Structure & Schedule: This program is run by contracted educators rather than volunteer mentors, which means sessions follow a consistent, reliable weekly schedule. There’s no need to adjust for volunteer availability or worry about last-minute changes as competition deadlines approach. Families can plan ahead with ease.
• Cost Transparency: Program fees cover both operational costs and stipends for our lead educators. While structured differently from our traditional teams, the cost supports the same high-quality robotics experience.
• No Travel Commitment: Instead of traveling to regional competitions, students will participate in in-house scrimmages, including matchups against QCRA’s internal championship teams. This gives them a competitive experience without the need for weekend travel or extra time commitments from families.
• Open Enrollment: There’s no need to wait for a spot on a competitive team. If your child is ready to explore robotics, you can sign up now and get started.

Additional Details:

• The program will be on-site next to the workshop where 21 robotics teams meet, build, and practice their robots.
• This FTC Program is ideal for students in grades 7 (age 12) through grades 12 (age 18), and coding experience is optional and not required.
• This class is led by peer instructors who are also robotics competition team members with experience to share for learning opportunities beyond this camp.

Requirements

• Computers are recommended for all participants. Contact QCRA before the session if a loaner computer is needed.
• Low-cost, refurbished computers are available for purchase from E2D (https://www.e-2-d.org/)

Transportation

• QCRA does not offer transportation at this time. The parent or legal guardian is responsible for transporting students to the facility.

Food Policy

• Only water is allowed during class. Snacks and drinks are optional and can be consumed in designated areas, but won't be allowed when working on robots and computers.

Scholarship Program

At this time, no scholarships are available. For questions or special considerations, please contact STEMprogram@queencityrobotics.org.

More Questions?

For questions regarding this event, please feel free to reach us via email at STEMprogram@queencityrobotics.org or call/text (980)292-4265.

For additional information about QCRA and what we do, please visit our website!