Welcome back, FIRST^® volunteers! The past 18 months have shown us the world needs FIRST now more than ever, and FIRST needs you, our global robotics community of volunteers. You work side by side with FIRST participants to build their leadership and problem-solving skills and foster self-confidence. You create a path forward for the next generation and inspire young people to make a positive impact on their communities and the world. You deliver the future to millions of youth across the globe.

We thank all of you who found innovative ways to keep FIRST in motion last season. Whatever the size and scope of the role you played, we are grateful for your hard work, dedication, and creativity. A special shout-out, as well, to those who cheered us on from a distance. We completely understand the many reasons you may not have been able to join us, and we are ready to welcome you back when you are ready. We can’t wait to deliver the future with you.

Let’s move FIRST^® FORWARD^SM, full speed ahead.

Sincerely,
The FIRST Volunteer Resources Department

Access to FIRST programs has never been more critical and is only made possible by our dedicated community of volunteers. We are excited to welcome you back! As we continue to navigate the pandemic with the safety and wellness of the FIRST community top of mind, we know you may have questions. What will this season look like? Will things be “normal” again? Will we have in-person events?

Whatever your situation, we have a way for you to engage with FIRST in this upcoming season in a meaningful way. We are hoping for a return to in-person events where that can be done safely, but this will vary by region and by program. Please reach out to our FIRST partners in your area if you have questions about events and opportunities near you. Read on to learn more about what's happening across all FIRST programs and to learn what you can do to get a jump on the season and be ready to deliver the future with us.

Your first stop? Grab your exclusive digital swag! Share your digital FIRST volunteer badge on social or in your email signature, snag the social media covers for your Facebook and Twitter profiles, and outfit your favorite devices with wallpapers designed to inspire and spread the word that you deliver the future.

Next stop? Visit your FIRST Dashboard to update your profile and check your screening for Youth Protection.

>> Learn what else you can do to get ready to volunteer this season

Now is a great time to take our Strategies for Inspiring Success for All training to prepare for the upcoming season and events. We collaborated with the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) to develop equity, diversity, and inclusion training for coaches, mentors, volunteers, partners, and other key stakeholders who work directly with students and are committed to creating a sense of belonging for students on teams.

Through engaging and reflective activities on our interactions with students, these modules will equip us with specific strategies to support community outreach, student participation, motivation, engagement, and success. This course is free and available to anyone.

Volunteer coordinators, looking for tips on how to be more inclusive in volunteer recruitment? Find our new tip sheet here.

>> Looking for other training or resources? Check out our ED&I resources page

FIRST is excited to share an introductory learning module for mentors, coaches, and event volunteers that explores what FIRST is and what it means to volunteer with FIRST. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or new to FIRST, we recommend taking this training to refresh or test your knowledge.

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.

Remote Mentoring with FIRST is a brief simulation training that explores the fundamentals of remote meetings for mentors and coaches.

Mentoring and Coaching with FIRST is a cross-program training module designed for new and prospective mentors and coaches that will allow you to develop a deeper understanding of the expectations of the role and where to find support.

>> Click here for volunteer trainings and other valuable resources

More than ever, our FIRST teams need mentors and coaches to help ignite curiosity, discovery, and collaboration and to empower them to make a positive impact on the world around them. The FIRST Mentor Network unites teams and mentors and allows them to interact to build a better future.

The FIRST Mentor Network is an interactive platform allowing teams and interested mentors to easily find each other for virtual or face-to-face mentorship. The community platform provides new and returning teams access to passionate, engaged mentors, while giving mentors the opportunity to use their unique skill sets and have meaningful involvement with one or multiple teams. Together, teams and mentors can deliver the future.  

>> Create your mentor or team profile today!

Volunteers are critical to the success of FIRST. We are grateful for everyone who has devoted their time and energy to the success of our programs and to prepare young people for the future. Each year, we recognize a few select volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their contributions to FIRST on both a local, national, or international level. As chosen by FIRST program directors, we would like to congratulate and thank David Greenley, Peter Johnson, Thomas Barnette, Trey Woodlief, David Baran, Sofia Bensouda, Rick Ramhap, and Stephen Swartzentruber on receiving the 2020 – 2021 Volunteer of the Year Award across our programs. They have invested significant time and energy into their volunteer roles with FIRST and we couldn’t have done it without them.

>> Learn more about the award and this year's recipients

Amy Lynn Hunt is the Chief People Officer at FIRST and supports the Human Resources, Volunteer Resources, and Youth Protection departments at FIRST. She loves that her job involves supporting the volunteers that make our programs possible and ensuring all our participants have a safe and positive experience. She is excited about the FIRST FORWARD season and working with volunteers to build a better future for all.

>>Meet Amy Lynn Hunt