Robotics
About Us
YWCA supports STEM and robotics programming for women and girls because it reduces the gender and racial disparities present in the STEM field.
Our Program
Do you have a budding scientist or engineer at home with an insatiable hunger to learn new concepts, build objects and program them? YWCA Princeton’s host of Robotics Programs – including a summer robotics clubs and outreach programs, as well as competitive robotics teams – is the perfect opportunity to spark your child’s passion for STEM!
Our All-Girls Competitive Robotics programs are designed to expose young girls to science and technology in a fun environment. This exciting new opportunity is offered as a part of an initiative hosted by Princeton University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.
FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL)
The FLL competition has 3 parts: the Robot Game, Project, and Core Values. Each year, FLL releases a new challenge that focuses on a different scientific topic or question. Teams will develop and present a Project related to the Challenge. Also, the teams will build a robot out of Lego bricks that includes motors, pulleys, and sensors. FLL team robots will complete missions during a 2-minute timed competition. The Robot Game and Project are what teams do–the Core Values are how they do it! Our FLL Team is for girls in grades 4th-8th.
FIRST® TECH CHALLENGE (FTC)
The FTC competition teams build, program, design and redesign as needed, a robot that is capable of competing against other robots in a difficult technical challenge. Robots compete in both autonomous and driver-controlled competitions. Teams are guided by adult Coaches and Mentors, who help students develop 21st Century Technical skills in Engineering principles (like keeping an engineering notebook), Design, Marketing, Branding, and Project Management. In addition, Teams must also do community outreach for which they can win awards. Participants have access to tens of millions of dollars in college scholarships. It’s all done with Gracious Professionalism! The FTC Team is for girls in grades 7th-12th.
*Registration for the 2020 Summer STEM Club will begin March 16 at 12:00pm.
YWCA Princeton’s Summer STEM Club meets for four weeks during the summer. Each weekly session is led by an instructor and focuses on 1 of 4 major topics in STEM and Robotics. Open to girls and boys, the club offers a 360 degree immersion in special topics, using all senses, and includes indoor and outdoor activities, and stress reduction exercises. Our Summer STEM Club is designed for students who:
- Are in grades 1 thru 10, ages 6-15
- Can work alone or in groups
- Are curious about art or science
- Want to dabble in the STEM world
When: July 7- July 30, 2020
Where: Unitarian Universalist Congregation on 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.
Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Time: 1-4 pm
Cost: Registration fee is $25 and tuition is $153/week. Fees include all materials, handouts, & special presentations each week.
Interested in Coaching / Mentoring our Robotics Programs?
Coaches and mentors have a lasting impact on team members. We currently have a few open positions. Please see below:
- Paid Summer STEM Internship (Click here for position description)
- FLL Team Coach (or) Mentor (Click here for position description)
- FTC Team Coach (or) Mentor (Click here for position description)
| May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | |
| Registration Opens | * | |||||||||||
| Pre-Season | * | * | * | |||||||||
| Kick-Off | ** | |||||||||||
| Build, Research, and Practice | ** | ** | ** | |||||||||
| Qualifying | ** | ** | ||||||||||
| State/Regional Championship* | ** | *** | ||||||||||
| Build, Research, and Practice | *** | *** | ||||||||||
| World Festival* | *** |
*One meeting per week.
**Two meetings per week.
***Two-three meetings per week.
Official competition season meetings are held after school and may include weekends. Exact dates and times of team meetings will be communicated directly by the coaches.
Post-season meetings may exceed two meeting per week for teams that advance to World and Super Regional Championships and will include a weekend meeting.
| May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | |
| Registration Opens | * | |||||||||||
| Pre-Season | * | * | * | * | ||||||||
| Kick-Off | ** | |||||||||||
| Build and Practice | ** | ** | ** | *** | *** | |||||||
| Qualifying | *** | |||||||||||
| State/Regional Championship | *** | |||||||||||
| Super-Regional Championships* | *** | |||||||||||
| World Championship* | *** |
*One meeting per week.
**Two meetings per week.
***Two-three meetings per week.
Official competition season meetings are held after school and may include weekends. Exact dates and times of team meetings will be communicated directly by the coaches.
Post-season meetings may exceed two meeting per week for teams that advance to World and Super Regional Championships and will include a weekend meeting.
| May | June | July | Aug | |
| Registration Opens | ||||
| Club Season | * | * |
*Summer STEM Club meets from 1-4 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursday from July 7th through July 30th.
Registration
Registration for the new season begins in May each year. Click the REGISTER button at the top of this page. Once clicked, it will bring you to a registration tool. Select “Princeton” for the site location and navigate your way to Robotics.
Rates
| Club or Team | Grades | Session | Registration Fee | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Girls FLL Team | 4th-8th | Year | $50/year | $337/year |
| All- Girls FTC Team | 7th-12th | Year | $50/year | $505/year |
| Summer Club | 1st-10th | Summer | $25/summer | $153/week |
Withdrawal
Class withdrawals 7 business days or more before the start of the class will be refunded at 100% less the registration fee in the manner in which the fee was paid. Withdrawals fewer than 7 business days before the start of the class will receive NO refund.
Participation in FIRST has a positive impact that is sustained beyond the competition season. Thanks to our partners, the YWCA will offer two scholarships this year to girls who are eligible for FTC robotics and have participated in FLL robotics in a previous season. Contact robotics@ywcaprinceton.org for information.