Official FIRST® partner. FIRST Chesapeake operates under the umbrella of VirginiaFIRST, a registered 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1999.
We’re here to provide life-changing robotics programs that give young people in DC, Maryland, and Virginia the skills, confidence, and resilience to build a better world. FIRST Chesapeake is a non-profit organization that supports the mission and vision of FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Our mission is to:
- Ins
08/02/2026
🚀 Sunday is for rolling up your sleeves.
Day two of Geared Up is built around hands-on deep dives. Map your full FRC season and leave with a real plan.
Work directly with Pybricks and SPIKE for FLL, or head offsite to the JMU XLabs maker space for a shop-tools primer most teams cannot get locally.
Come for the sessions you actually need.🔥
REGISTER ➡️: gearedupmentorconference26.sched.com
07/31/2026
The next FLL season lands at Geared Up.🚀 Get a first look at BioGlow with the FIRST Chesapeake FLL staff and members of the FIRST Canopy team.
Whether you have coached ten seasons or you are thinking about starting your first team this fall, this is where the season begins. 💫
REGISTER ➡️: gearedupmentorconference26.sched.com
07/30/2026
A quick reminder about Geared Up 2026.🚀
If you live in Virginia, Maryland, DC, or West Virginia, it is free. If you are outside our district, scholarships are open and, honestly, if you apply you are probably in. We have room. We want you there.
It is beginner-friendly. It is open to everyone. Bring your questions.
August 8th and 9th at James Madison University.
REGISTER ➡️: gearedupmentorconference26.sched.com
07/30/2026
The NASA Knights wrapped up their 2026 season by celebrating their graduating seniors! Congratulations, and best of luck in everything that comes next. You'll always be a part of the FIRST Chesapeake family. 💙🌟🎓
07/29/2026
🔥 Geared Up Mentor Conference – SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT!
Meet Leon Pryor, Senior Game Producer at Meta, Co-Founder and President of the Motor City Alliance, and Lead Coach of FRC 8280 K9.0 Robotics.
Under his leadership, the School at Marygrove became the first Detroit public school in 18 years to qualify for the FRC World Championship. Leon is also a Compass Award Finalist and Woodie Flowers Award Finalist.
Embracing the Kaizen explores how small, intentional improvements in design, culture, and process can lead to extraordinary results over time. If you're coaching a small team with big ambitions, this is a session you won't want to miss.
Saturday, August 8th at 4:00PM.
REGISTER ➡️ gearedupmentorconference26.sched.com
07/29/2026
🚀 Geared Up Mentor Conference - SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT!
From a $500 FLL sponsor to a $50K FRC partnership, the principles are the same. Alex Bryant is leading TWO candid sessions on how teams actually get funded. Grant Writing from application to award. Pitching to Sponsors, the art of the ask.
"Everything I'm about to tell you, I learned by making mistakes. Let me save you some of those."
Saturday, August 8th and Sunday, August 9th.
REGISTER ➡️: gearedupmentorconference26.sched.com
07/28/2026
After two days of preparation at the FIRST National Advocacy Conference, Team 10224, took their message to Capitol Hill. 🤖🇺🇸
The team met with the offices of Senator Tim Kaine and Representatives John McGuire, Bobby Scott, Rob Wittman, and Jennifer McClellan to advocate for continued investment in STEM education and share the impact FIRST Robotics has had on their lives.
They also visited the White House before wrapping up the day with robot demonstrations on Capitol Hill, giving congressional staff a firsthand look at how FIRST inspires the next generation of engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers.
Incredible work, . We're so proud of you!
07/25/2026
🌟 Geared Up Mentor Conference - SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT!
Meet Tom Milnes, Chief Scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and Lead Mentor of FRC 2199 Robo-Lions.
Tom joins veteran mentor, Conaway Haskins for Building a Community Team That Lasts, a straight look at the funding, leadership, and succession decisions that separate teams that survive from teams that thrive.
Saturday, August 8th at 11:30AM.
REGISTER ➡️: gearedupmentorconference26.sched.com
07/24/2026
🌟 Geared Up Mentor Conference - SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT!
Meet Amy Sabarre! Most coaches build something remarkable while feeling like they're doing it alone. In her keynote, You Are Not Coaching Alone, Amy will explore the network of educators, professionals, organizations, and resources already surrounding your team, and show you how to tap into that support.
Saturday, August 8th at 9:00AM.
REGISTER ➡️: gearedupmentorconference26.sched.com
07/23/2026
🚀 Geared Up Mentor Conference - SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT!
Meet Ethan Bass, an engineering teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools and Head Coach of FTC 4924. Ethan designs teamwork challenges that strengthen creative thinking, communication, and self-reflection.
One student left a review of his challenges... "These are positively evil."👀
The Art of Effective Teamwork Challenges. Saturday, August 8th at 2:45PM.
REGISTER ➡️: gearedupmentorconference26.sched.com