Welcome to the GEARED UP: Mentor Conference, where innovation meets inspiration!
Join us on May 17, 2025, from 9 am to 4 pm at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Kossiakoff Center, for a day filled with knowledge-sharing, networking, and empowerment.
This conference is proudly presented by Aramco America and aims to equip mentors with the tools and insights needed to effectively guide an increasingly diverse generation of students.
Start your day with caffeine and community. Ease into the conference with fresh coffee, light breakfast fare, and an open space to connect with fellow mentors, presenters, and program leaders. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a seasoned pro, this is the perfect place to spark conversation and share your “what brings you here” story.
Saturday May 17, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT Tech Mixer
Kick off the FIRST Chesapeake Mentor Conference with an energizing welcome and a powerful call to action from Lisa Mooney of FIRST HQ. In this opening keynote, we’ll celebrate the critical role mentors play across the FIRST ecosystem and unveil the brand-new Mentor Development Initiative—a national effort to elevate, support, and grow the mentor community.
Learn how this initiative will shape the future of mentoring through training, recognition, and tools that help both new and seasoned mentors thrive. Whether you’re here to level up your skills or renew your sense of purpose, this is your launchpad.
Alex Bryant is committed to serving his communities. Bryant graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Music and a minor in Biology. He currently works for FIRST Chesapeake, an arm of the International FIRST Inspires, a global robotics community preparing young people... Read More →
More bots, more belonging. The Huss Family shares their inclusive model for running FLL teams using a multibot approach that increases hands-on opportunities, encourages student leadership, and accommodates different learning styles and needs.
Whether you’re working with a large team, diverse learners, or a mixed-age group, this session will show how you can scale engagement without losing depth—and build a more equitable team culture in the process.
Ever wonder how award decisions really happen at FTC events? Jeff Meyers takes you behind the curtain of the judging process—what’s consistent across regions, what’s subjective, and what teams can do to authentically stand out.
This session is ideal for mentors looking to better prepare students for interviews, documentation, and award criteria—without gaming the system or losing the heart of their story.
Representation starts with recruitment—and intentional strategies make all the difference. In this mentor-led session from FTC #18442 Gear Rotation, learn how one team actively recruited girls and nonbinary students, built a supportive team culture, and worked to close the gender gap in STEM.
You’ll leave with replicable ideas, fresh talking points, and insight into how mentorship can shape identity and opportunity.
Saturday May 17, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am EDT Team Management Room11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD, USA
Want to help shape the future of FIRST in your region? We’re looking for smart, passionate mentors like you to join advisory committees focused on programs, outreach, accessibility, and events.
In this session, Dave, Joey, and Denyse will walk through what these committees actually do, why your voice matters, and how you can get involved. Whether you're a behind-the-scenes strategist or a community cheerleader, there's a seat at the table waiting for you.
Looking for an affordable, flexible robotics tool you can actually use in class? Meet XRP—a cross-curricular robotics platform built for accessibility, engagement, and real-world skills.
In this session, Lori and Kate show how XRP fits into school-day instruction, aligns with standards, and sparks student creativity. Whether you're an FLL/FTC mentor who's also a teacher, or a district looking to embed more hands-on STEM, you'll walk away with ideas, lesson flow, and implementation tips.
What happens after your team leaves the judging room? In this behind-the-scenes session, Senior Judge Advisor Jessi Brown will demystify the FRC judging process, sharing how judges evaluate teams, deliberate on awards, and what truly makes a team stand out. You'll get insight into how awards are determined, tips for helping students feel confident and prepared, and a better understanding of how gracious professionalism and storytelling impact success. Whether you're new to FRC or looking to fine-tune your team’s award approach, this session offers valuable advice straight from the judging table.
From local education foundations to federal STEM initiatives, grant funding can power your team beyond bake sales. In this session, Alex Bryant shares firsthand experience writing, winning, and sustaining grants across multiple levels—from grassroots efforts to major institutional partners.
You’ll walk away with templates, tips, and a better understanding of how to tell your team’s story in a way that funders care about. Bonus: insights into how to collaborate across schools, regions, and programs to unlock larger impact.
Alex Bryant is committed to serving his communities. Bryant graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Music and a minor in Biology. He currently works for FIRST Chesapeake, an arm of the International FIRST Inspires, a global robotics community preparing young people... Read More →
Saturday May 17, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am EDT Fundraising & Planning Room11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD, USA
Moving from FLL to FTC can feel like a leap—but it doesn’t have to be. Join experienced coaches Ryan Rich and Suseendran Natarajan for a down-to-earth conversation about how to guide students (and mentors) through this transition with confidence and continuity.
You’ll learn about timing, training, mindset shifts, and how to preserve what students love about FLL while embracing the exciting challenges of FTC.
Hosting a FIRST event isn’t just about tables and tape—it’s about shaping the culture and visibility of robotics in your region. Join veteran hosts Anne and Farish for a practical and visionary session on what it takes to successfully host FTC and FRC events, especially as we look ahead to opportunities for the 2026–2027 season.
Whether you're curious about what's involved, ready to take the plunge, or just looking to level up your existing event, this session will break it all down: logistics, funding, volunteer coordination, community engagement, and the “why” behind it all.
How can the excitement and creativity of FIRST robotics translate into structured classroom learning? In this session, Lori Birch shares how to integrate FIRST-style project-based learning into formal education settings using clear, scalable learning pathways.
Explore how hands-on challenges, iterative design thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem solving can align with academic standards while keeping the spirit of discovery alive. Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or mentor supporting a school partnership, you'll leave with concrete ideas to build meaningful STEM learning experiences that connect the classroom to the competition field—and beyond.
SUGO (Sumo + LEGO) isn’t just fun—it’s a fundraising and outreach powerhouse. Join Amber and Seelig as they showcase how this lightweight, high-energy competition format can raise dollars, recruit new families, and build buzz in your community.
Learn how to run your own SUGO event, integrate it into open houses or back-to-school nights, and turn a few LEGO bricks into lasting relationships (and revenue). Ideal for FLL and FTC programs looking for approachable fundraising options.
Inclusion isn't an add-on—it's the foundation of powerful mentoring. In this essential session, Shari Robinson explores strategies for supporting neurodiverse students within FTC and FRC programs.
You’ll learn how to foster environments where students with autism, ADHD, and other neurological differences feel seen, supported, and able to thrive. Expect insights into communication, team structure, and the subtle ways mentors can make (or break) belonging.
From Discord to GroupMe to Google Chat, today’s teams live online—and so do the risks. In this timely session, Mike Yu tackles how mentors can foster healthy digital communication, prevent cyberbullying, and use online platforms without compromising team trust or safety.
Learn about real-world scenarios, clear boundaries, and tools for keeping your team connected, kind, and coachable—on and off the field.
What does it mean to be the kind of mentor who shapes lives far beyond the robot? Join Ken Lesley, FIRST Chesapeake’s 2025 Woodie Flowers Award Winner, as he shares reflections on mentorship, leadership, and the values that defined both Woodie Flowers' legacy and the heart of FIRST.
Drawing on decades of experience guiding students at McKinley Technology High School, Ken will discuss what it means to truly inspire—not just instruct—and how small moments of encouragement can change a student’s trajectory.
Whether you're a new mentor or a seasoned veteran, this session offers a powerful reminder of the impact you have — and the responsibility we all share to lift up the next generation with gracious professionalism, empathy, and wisdom.
Director, Academy of Engineering, McKinley Technology High School-NASA Rover and Cell Phone Locker manufacturing summer internships. Coach of Firebird Rob
With a degree in mechanical engineering from MIT, Ken’s first career was in the petroleum industry. He became an expert at controlled directional drilling. Ken transitioned into the software industry after traveling around the world for 15 years, making holes in the ground, and... Read More →
Saturday May 17, 2025 11:00am - 11:45am EDT Outreach Room11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD, USA
Fuel up, make friends, and explore what's new in STEM education. Join fellow attendees and our partner exhibitors for a relaxed, open-seating lunch where you can chat with mentors across programs, discover new tools and technologies, and learn how local industry is engaging with FIRST. Think of it as your midday recharge—with purpose.
Saturday May 17, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT Tech Mixer
If you’re new to FLL and wondering what you just got yourself into—this session is for you. Veteran mentors Marcus and Boyd from the Macro Mentor Core break it down with humor, honesty, and helpful resources for surviving (and thriving) in your first season.
From understanding the season arc to balancing robots, Core Values, and project work, this is your friendly orientation to what matters most and what to leave behind.
Join West Coast Products for a behind-the-scenes look at the tools, design philosophies, and innovations that have helped shape competitive robotics across the FIRST landscape. Whether you’re a mechanical mentor, a strategy geek, or just curious about what makes certain systems and components stand out, this session will give you practical insight and inspiration straight from one of the most respected names in the game.
A winning season starts with a smart strategy. In this technical session, Steve Shade will guide you through the process of analyzing a new FRC game, developing an effective game model, and building a strategy that maximizes your team’s competitive potential.
Using real-world data from previous seasons, you’ll explore how initial kickoff estimates hold up over time—and how to refine your team’s early-game thinking into a season-long advantage. This session will expand on techniques introduced during Back-to-Build sessions, offering mentors and technical leads a deeper understanding of how to approach a new challenge with confidence and precision.
Ready to expand your program’s reach and resilience? Learn how to tap into FIRST Chesapeake’s GEARED UP educator initiative and regional STEM hubs to bring curriculum support, training, and technical tools to your school or community.
Shelly Stoddard walks you through models that have worked in rural, urban, and under-resourced contexts—so you can adapt them to your own backyard. If you’re ready to grow STEM access beyond your team, this is where to start.
Why build one great team when you can build a family of them? In this forward-looking session, FIRST HQ’s newest Business Development Manager, Isriah Keila, explores the concept of “sibling teams” as a strategy for sustainability and program growth.
Learn how creating FTC and FRC sibling teams—or forming alliances across schools and age groups—can boost retention, leadership development, and community buy-in. Whether you’re from a single-team school or a district with room to grow, this session will help you think expansively about your team’s future.
Great seasons don’t start in January—they start in July. Learn how to build and run a summer bridge program that welcomes rookies, trains up next year’s leaders, and keeps your program humming.
Seelig Sinton will share templates, timelines, and tools for running effective and fun summer programming that helps students build skills, bond as a team, and enter the fall with confidence and clarity.
Your team already has a brand—whether you’ve worked on it or not. In this honest and energizing session, Jen Scharl explores how mentors can help students define, refine, and elevate how their team is seen by schools, sponsors, and the broader community.
Learn how to connect visual identity, mission, and messaging into something authentic and memorable. Whether you're a rookie or a regional powerhouse, your brand deserves more than clipart and a catchy pun.
When someone asks, “What’s FIRST?”—what do you say? Whether you’re pitching to a parent, a principal, or a potential sponsor, your message matters.
In this fast-paced session, Lisa Mooney walks you through how to craft a clear, confident, and compelling elevator pitch that captures the heart of the program and your unique impact. You’ll leave with a pitch you can use on Monday—and the confidence to speak your team’s truth in any room.
FTC Team #27163 takes the stage to share their project on the lived experiences of women in STEM. Through a mixed-methods approach blending interviews, data analysis, and personal reflection, the team uncovers patterns, barriers, and bright spots in the paths of today’s women engineers and scientists.
Come hear their findings, why this research matters, and how your team can take on meaningful inquiry that goes beyond the robot—and into the real world.
Saturday May 17, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT Team Management Room11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD, USA
Hosting an FLL Explore event is more than just logistics—it’s an opportunity to spark joy, celebrate learning, and welcome new families into the FIRST fold. Amber and Seelig will walk you through how to plan, promote, and pull off a successful Explore event, even if you’re short on space, staff, or budget.
Ideal for rookie hosts or experienced coordinators looking to refresh their approach, this session combines practical advice with a deep love for the youngest members of the FIRST community.
Summer is prime time for STEM exploration—and XRP makes it easy to launch robotics camps that are fun, accessible, and aligned with real-world learning. Lori and Kate share how they’ve used XRP to create engaging summer experiences for all skill levels.
Get practical guidance on planning, pacing, supplies, staffing, and how to use XRP to attract new students, retain interest, and even build bridges to FIRST programs in the fall.
Hosting a FIRST LEGO League event is more than a service—it's a strategic move to strengthen your program, grow local engagement, and cultivate future FTC and FRC talent. This session explores what it takes to host an FLL event, from logistics and volunteer planning to venue considerations and partner collaboration. We’ll focus especially on how FTC and FRC teams and organizations can play a leadership role, creating a welcoming experience for younger students while reinforcing the full FIRST progression. Whether you're an FLL coach, a robotics program leader, or part of a high school team looking to give back, this session offers actionable insights and a broader vision for sustainable program growth.
You don’t need to be a pro to bring CAD into your team workflow. In this beginner-friendly session, Sebastien Sviatyi walks you through how to introduce CAD to students (and mentors), pick the right tools, and avoid common pitfalls.
Learn how CAD can support iterative design, reduce build mistakes, and help your team plan with precision—without overwhelming your students or your schedule.
A strong sponsor relationship is about more than logos—it’s about shared mission, mutual value, and smart communication. In this practical session, Alex Bryant shares what actually works when it comes to finding new sponsors, making the ask, and building long-term partnerships.
We’ll talk tiers, storytelling, stewardship, and how to translate your team's success into ROI for businesses and organizations of all sizes. Whether you’re rebooting your fundraising plan or starting from scratch, you’ll leave with a refreshed sponsor strategy.
Alex Bryant is committed to serving his communities. Bryant graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Music and a minor in Biology. He currently works for FIRST Chesapeake, an arm of the International FIRST Inspires, a global robotics community preparing young people... Read More →
Saturday May 17, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT Fundraising & Planning Room11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD, USA
What separates a good robot from a great one? Often, it’s not just the build—it’s the thinking behind it. In this deep dive, Joey Kerns shares accessible strategies for applying engineering design principles to your team’s approach from kickoff to competition.
Explore how to frame decisions around constraints, goals, and iteration; how to encourage critical reflection; and how to guide students through real-world tradeoffs. Whether your team is rookie or elite, this session equips mentors with the language and tools to embed strategy into every bolt and bracket.
Volunteering isn’t just good citizenship—it’s a strategic move that builds leadership, community visibility, and award-readiness (hello, Impact Award). Join Jen as she connects the dots between volunteering and building a high-character, high-performance team.
You’ll learn how to help students find the right volunteer opportunities, track and share impact, and use volunteerism as a team-building and recognition tool all season long.
Looking for more control, flexibility, and fun with your FLL programming? In this hands-on technical session, Marcus and Boyd show how to replace SPIKE Prime’s standard coding environment with PyBricks—a Python-based alternative that unlocks new capabilities for LEGO robots.
Learn why and how teams are making the switch, what to watch out for, and how this tool can help curious students level up their coding skills in a more open-ended environment.
Mentors do more than guide teams to success—they help shape students' futures. In this session, Aaron Greene, founder of Pathfinders College and Career Advisors, shares how mentors play a critical role in preparing students for college, careers, and life beyond competitions.
Discover actionable strategies for nurturing leadership, fostering a growth mindset, and helping students connect their team experiences to their long-term goals for college and beyond. Learn how you can amplify your impact by connecting students with the right resources, including expert support from Pathfinders. Whether you're mentoring FLL, FTC, or FRC students, this session will equip you to guide your team members toward lasting success—and inspire the next generation of leaders.
You’ve got questions, ideas, and maybe even a few funny stories—and this is the space to share them. In this FLL Unconference, you’ll help shape the agenda and dive into conversations that matter most to YOU and your fellow coaches.
Never tried an unconference? It’s a participant-driven session where everyone has a voice, and the format is as flexible as your LEGO builds. Whether it’s recruiting, project work, behavior management, or just staying sane during tournament season—bring it to the circle and let’s figure it out together.
Ever leave a conference wishing you could’ve had a real conversation about the exact challenge your team is facing? This is your chance.
The FRC Unconference flips the script—there’s no formal presentation, no slide deck, and no passive listening. Instead, we’ll co-create the agenda on the spot, based on what you want to talk about. Led by seasoned facilitator Anne, this interactive session invites mentors to share, ask, listen, and collaborate around topics that matter most in real time.
What’s an unconference? It’s a participant-driven session format that’s informal, flexible, and focused on peer-to-peer exchange. Whether it’s team culture, robot strategy, off-season training, or that one persistent problem you haven’t cracked, come with a topic, a question, or just curiosity. You’ll leave with fresh perspectives and practical ideas you didn’t see coming.
Bring your questions, your quirks, and your sticky problems—this session is about you. In this FTC Unconference, we’ll co-create the session agenda on the fly, based on the needs and curiosity of the room.
Never been to an unconference? It’s a flexible, participant-led format where there’s no wrong question and no passive listening. Whether you're tackling judging prep, tech constraints, student engagement, or program logistics, join fellow mentors for open dialogue, fresh insights, and unexpected connections. Facilitated by the ever-resourceful Shelly Stoddard.
Fundraising is never one-size-fits-all—and that’s exactly why we’re crowdsourcing the solutions. In this Fundraising Unconference, you and your peers will shape the agenda and dive deep into real-world challenges: sustaining teams in rural areas, funding buses, wooing sponsors, or just making that last $500 appear.
Come with a problem, a success story, or just curiosity. This open-format session is all about shared wisdom, collective brainstorming, and leaving with a few new tricks (and friends) in your back pocket.
Alex Bryant is committed to serving his communities. Bryant graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Music and a minor in Biology. He currently works for FIRST Chesapeake, an arm of the International FIRST Inspires, a global robotics community preparing young people... Read More →
Saturday May 17, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Fundraising & Planning Room11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD, USA
You’ve heard the keynote—now it’s your turn to weigh in. This Mentor Development Unconference is a participant-driven conversation hosted by FIRST HQ’s Lisa Mooney, focused on the newly launched Mentor Development Initiative.
Bring your lived experience, bold ideas, and hard-earned wisdom to help shape what resources, trainings, and recognition systems should look like for mentors across the FIRST ecosystem. Whether you're new to mentoring or have been in the game for years, your input will help build a better, more supported future for every mentor—and every team.
Saturday May 17, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT Team Management Room11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD, USA
Unwind. Connect. Play. Cap off a full day of learning with good food, great drinks, and even better company at Game ON, a retro arcade and bar just minutes from the venue. We'll cover the food and drinks—you bring your stories, laughter, and best pinball skills. Open to all registered attendees (21+ for alcoholic beverages).
