Volunteers Needed Quad City area 2023 – 2024 FIRST Events l
Last Updated: 8Dec23 1:57 PM
Following is information for multiple events, with links for technical and non-technical volunteer roles. No prior experience is necessary for most volunteer positions. College and high school students are welcome to volunteer.
Are you looking for a way to share your skills and talents, have fun and positively impact the lives of students ages 4-18 in the Quad Cities? It doesn’t matter which FIRST program you volunteer for, at the end of the day you will always walk away with a sense of pride and fulfillment, knowing that you have helped our youth experience something special that they would not have without FIRST and without your support. Volunteers can easily see, FIRST is much more than robots.
Individuals with technical and non-technical backgrounds are being sought for the below upcoming in-person events. No prior experience is required for most volunteer roles, including judges or referees. Training is provided where needed. Please apply and indicate the volunteer positions you are interested in supporting.
FIRST LEGO League Challenge Events
Friendly competition is at the heart of challenge, as teams of students ages 9-14 engage in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game. For this year’s MASTERPIECE challenge, teams will imagine and innovate new ways to create and communicate art across the globe.
Four Quad City events with 63 teams from 25 different communities from Iowa and Illinois you can apply to support as a volunteer.
You will need to create a free profile with FIRST in their volunteer management system.
Sat, 9Dec23 Quad Cities – Davenport Qualifier, Putnam Museum & Science Center
- Link to sign-up to volunteer in FIRST system
- Schedule for the event (9:00 AM – 3:45 PM for public) – Updated 8Dec23 12:48 PM
- List of 17 teams (one list for four events)
Sun, 10Dec23 Quad Cities – Davenport Qualifier at Putnam Museum & Science Center
- Link to sign-up to volunteer in FIRST system
- Schedule for the event (9:00 AM – 2:45 PM for public) – Updated 8Dec23 12:48 PM
- List of 15 teams (one list for four events)
Sat, 16Dec23 Quad Cites – Moline Qualifier, John Deere World Headquarters
- Link to sign-up to volunteer in FIRST System
- Schedule for event (9:30 AM – 3:30 PM for pubic)
- List of 16 teams (one list for four events)
Sun, 17Dec23 Quad Cites – Moline Qualifier, John Deere World Headquarters
- Link to sign-up to volunteer in FIRST System
- Schedule for event (9:30 AM – 3:30 PM for public)
- List of 15 teams (one list for four events)
Quad Cities FIRST LEGO League Event Planning Team:
- Pat Barnes
- Susan Eckert
- Andrea Fitzpatrick
- Nama Ganesh
- Kelly Lao
- Dale Marrow
- Susan McNicholl
- Steve Mielenhausen
- Sanchia Horst Sommer
- Anne Ryerson
- Beth Ullmark
FIRST Tech Challenge Events:
FIRST Tech Challenge students learn to think like engineers. Teams design, build, and code robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology, and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming. In this year’s challenge CENTERSTAGE, teams will raise the curtain on the power of design, creativity, and precision to create all new experiences.
Dates/locations of meets are currently being finalized. Listed below currently known events needing volunteers with more to be added as announced:
- 18Nov23 – Western Illinois League Meet 1, Orion High School, Orion, Illinois
- 16Dec2d – Western Illinois League Meet 2, Fulton High School, Fulton, Illinois
- 13Jan24 – Western Illinois League Meet 3, Moline High School, Moline, Illinois
- 27Jan24 – Iowa Edward Savage League Tournament, Pleasant Valley High School, Bettendorf, Iowa
- 1-2Mar24 – FTC Iowa Championship, Xtream Arena & Greenstate Fieldhouse, Coralville, Iowa
Please note that tournaments and championships require the most volunteers including judges.
Need help signing up to volunteer Download the Volunteer Registration User Guide
Note: In order be assigned to a volunteer position, adult volunteers will need to pass the background check initially the first time they create an account and apply as part of FIRST’s Youth Protection Program. Note: you are not required to provide your social security number and there is no cost to you for the background check. The background check is done the first time you apply and thereafter ,every three years. A background check for minors is not required.
Volunteers will receive an e-mail when you have been assigned to a role.
FIRST History:
FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen (inventor of the Segway) with their mission to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that is much #MoreThanRobots by building science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
(Link to amazing FIRST student impacts)
Links to key information about volunteering with FIRST:
- Volunteering with FIRST is an introductory learning module for mentors, coaches, and event volunteers that explores what FIRST is and what it means to volunteer with FIRST.
- Key information with links on being a FIRST volunteer
Links to further information on FIRST programs:
- FIRST LEGO League Discover – Students in Grades Prek-1 (age 4-6). Available with class pack supporting up to 30 students.
- FIRST LEGO League Explore (FLL Jr previously) – Students Grades K-4 (age 6-10) with teams of up to six students
- FIRST LEGO League Challenge – Students Grades 4-8th (age 9-14 in North American & 9-16 globally) with teams of up to 10 students
- FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) – Students grades 7-12th (age 12-18) with students up to 15 students
- FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) – Students Grade 9-12th (age 14 – 18) with unlimited size teams (average 23 students per team)
If you have any questions regarding volunteering at Quad City area FIRST events, send an e-mail to [email protected]