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
06/18/2026
earned an invitation to compete at the FIRST Texas , one of the premier FTC events in the world!🌍️🚀
The event brought together teams from Mexico, Romania, Kazakhstan, and across the United States, giving team members a chance to learn, collaborate, and compete on an international stage.
06/17/2026
and were recognized by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for their performance at the 2026 World Championship! Well deserved.💙❤️
06/16/2026
Behind every robot, every competition, and every student success story, there's someone cheering them on.💙
Volunteers are the heart of FIRST Chesapeake. Whether you're mentoring a team, judging at an event, helping with logistics, or simply encouraging students from the sidelines, your time can make a lasting impact.
Ready to make a difference? Join our volunteer community and help inspire the future. ➡️ www.firstchesapeake.org/volunteer
06/15/2026
Our mentors aren't just showing up at build sessions — they're answering questions at 10pm the week before competition. They're the reason students stay in STEM.
FIRST Chesapeake is building the structure that gives that relationship reach and staying power across our entire region. Who do you know who should be part of this network? Tag them.👇🌟
➡️ globalgiving.org/projects/chesapeake-bridges
06/12/2026
We absolutely love seeing our teams make an impact in their communities. Last week, spent time volunteering, educating, and inspiring future STEM leaders at CNU STEM Day!🤖🌟
06/11/2026
Title I schools. Rural programs. Communities where FIRST robotics arrived on a shoestring and has survived on sheer will.
Those teams deserve the same foundation as everyone else — not charity, but infrastructure. Shared hubs. Accessible practice space. Mentors who show up.
That's what your support builds through FIRST Chesapeake. A foundation that outlasts any single season.
➡️ globalgiving.org/projects/chesapeake-bridges
06/10/2026
recently welcomed Halifax County Public Schools elementary students for a day of STEM learning! With guidance from Team 977, students put their creativity and engineering skills to the test by building pool noodle robots and slingshots.
We love seeing the next generation of STEM leaders discover what's possible when creativity and problem-solving come together! 🤖✨
06/09/2026
recently celebrated FIRST Signing Day, recognizing four of their graduating seniors! All four students have been accepted into engineering programs at UVA, Michigan, ODU, and RIT, where they'll continue pursuing their passion for robotics and innovation.
Congratulations, and best of luck on this exciting next chapter! 🌟🤖✨️
06/08/2026
One week from today, FIRST Chesapeake's Global Giving campaign opens, and we have exactly 24 hours.
Every dollar supports the infrastructure that keeps teams running: shared resources, mentor networks, and access to what teams need to stay in the game year after year.
Donations of $100 or more are eligible for bonus matching funds. July 15.
🌟 globalgiving.org/projects/chesapeake-bridges
06/08/2026
A student in rural Virginia and a student in Northern Virginia often have the same potential. What they don't have is the same access. FIRST Chesapeake closes that gap — not with good intentions, but with real infrastructure: tools, mentors, practice fields, and shared spaces where teams can actually build. This July, you can be part of building it.
To make an impact, click the link below.🌟
globalgiving.org/projects/chesapeake-bridges