Hi , 

Coming to you from FIRST^® HQ in Manchester, NH, USA.

WHAT'S NEW

Welcome to the BIOGLOW™ Season: During the 2026-2027 biodiversity-inspired robotics season FIRST^® CANOPY™, students will use their STEM skills and collaboration to engineer a thriving planet together. The FIRST^® LEGO^® League BIOGLOW™ season will be an expedition of growth and innovation. Season materials are now available.

Watch the BIOGLOW Season Welcome Video.

Season materials for BIOGLOW Future Edition (Grades K-2) will be released on October 1 – stay tuned!

Verify your team details in the FIRST Dashboard: As the FIRST CANOPY season begins, we're asking all lead coaches to verify and update all team details in the FIRST Dashboard.

Important: Please confirm your contact information, including your team address/location, is correct in the system.

Career Connections: Learn about different biodiversity careers with these videos from our Program Delivery Partner in Australia.

Grow your knowledge with FIRST^® Trainings: Accessible from your FIRST Dashboard, FIRST Training has many cross-program and program-specific trainings available for you to get ready to lead your team this season including:

🌱Mentor Ready Training path: This introductory training path consists of four trainings to equip mentors with the tools and resources to confidently lead and inspire their teams. This training path will automatically show up as a required role-specific training in your dashboard for easy access and is highly encouraged for all coaches and mentors.

🌱Role of a Lead Coach Training: This cross-program training is available to help equip current and future volunteers to be a Lead Coach in a FIRST program.

🌱NEW Mentor Fundamentals training path: This new training path equips current and prospective mentors with essential skills to navigate challenges effectively, foster positive team environments, and support and inspire youth.

🌱NEW FIRST Mentors: Building Inspiration Training: This new training is designed to equip FIRST mentors with the resources and skills needed to inspire, empower, and support youth in meaningful ways. Through a focus on intentional community-building, mentors will learn how to create a fun team environment where every student feels valued, motivated, and capable of achieving great things.

REMINDERS

Connect with local FIRST teams and mentors on the Team & Event search page: Did you know you can connect with local teams and mentors using features available on the Team & Event Search page? Here's how you can connect using your team profile:

✅ Share a contact email for your team so local mentors or other teams can reach out.

✅ Indicate if you are interested in mentoring another team.

✅ Share if you are interested in being mentored and in what areas.

Lead Coaches can log into the FIRST Dashboard to add this information to their team profile. Once added, the mentoring options will be displayed on the Team & Event Search page. Learn more about these features.

FIRST Certified Professional Development: Kick off the school year by stepping into your students’ world and learning how to guide them through hands-on, discovery-driven activities. Join us for remote sessions designed to build confidence, spark engagement, and bring fresh energy to your program. Learn more. Contact the FIRST Professional Services team if you have questions about upcoming sessions or registration.

CELEBRATION AND SHOUTOUTS

What are you most excited about for the #BIOGLOW season?  

Let us know on social media and be sure to tag us!