Family Registration 2024-2025
Step 1: Learn More About Our Programs
For those new to Aquidneck Island Robotics and FIRST, check out the videos and descriptions below!
FIRST Lego League Explore Overview
In Explore, teams of students in grades 2-3 focus on the fundamentals of engineering as they explore real-world problems, learn to design and code and create unique solutions made with LEGO bricks and powered by LEGO Education WeDo 2.0.
FIRST Lego League Challenge Overview
Friendly competition is at the heart of Challenge, as teams of students in grades 4-8 engage in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game. As part of Challenge, teams also participate in a research project to identify and solve a relevant real-world problem.
FIRST Robotics Competition Overview
Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, perform local community outreach, 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.
Meeting Locations, Frequency & Competitions
Our teams primarily meet in Middletown, RI at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. Team meeting times, duration and frequency vary by program.
FIRST Lego League Explore teams meet once every weeks throughout the winter and early spring. Meetings usually last 90 minutes. The teams present their project at the Rhode Island FLL Explore Expo.
FIRST Lego League Challenge teams meet twice a week throughout the fall and early winter. Meetings usually last 2 hours. Teams compete at a local qualifier to try and earn a spot at the Rhode Island FLL Championship in February. High performing teams may earn an invite to the FIRST World Championship in Houston or a National Competition in Arkansas.
Our FIRST Robotics Competition team meets weekly in the summer and fall to prepare for the intense build and competition season that begins in January. Starting in January, the team will meet up to four times per week for 3+ hours until New England qualifiers begin in March. Top teams then compete at the New England championship in hopes of earning an invite to the World Championship in Houston. All FRC competitions take place over multiple days.
Step 2: Prepare Payment
Payment Due During Registration
New for this season, families will register and pay membership fees at the same time rather than being sent an invoice. Major credit/debit cards as well as PayPal is accepted. Please contact us below with any payment questions.
Membership Scholarship Application
AIR is committed to making our programs accessible to all students. Families interested in a full or partial membership scholarship must submit a scholarship application prior to registering. When approved, families will receive a code to reduce or eliminate the membership fee during registration.
Step 3: Review Season Policies & Register
We recommend that families review our 2024 - 2025 Member Policies Document (coming soon) prior to registering.
Grades 2 - 3
Cost $75
Registration Opens November 2024
Grades 4 - 8
Registration Closed
Grades 8 - 12
Cost $275
Step 4: Prepare for Season Start
Each AIR program has a unique season. Program coordinators and coaches will reach out to families with information on meeting times and locations.
FLL Explore
Our coordinator will assign teams and our coaches will begin to reach out in December to schedule meetings and activities.
FLL Challenge
FIRST will release the new challenge in August. Our coordinator will assign teams and our coaches will begin to reach out in August to schedule meetings and activities.
FIRST Robotics Competition
FIRST will reveal the new FRC game in early January. Starting in July, we will start weekly meetings to complete preseason projects in preparation of the build and competition season. New students will receive guidance from mentors and veteran students to prepare.