Become a CU FIRST Member
As a Member of the Carleton University FIRST Robotics Alumni & Mentoring Association, not only will you join our FIRST Robotics support network in Ottawa, you will also gain access to our events and services! You will be the first to know about any FIRST Mentoring, Coaching, Volunteering, or outreach opportunities in the National Capital Region and across Eastern Ontario, you will be invited to join us for Social Events, Networking Opportunities, and General Meetings, and you will have the opportunity to become directly involved in our organization as a Director or member of our Executive!
All students currently enrolled in a University or College program in the Ottawa, ON and Gatineau, QC area are eligible for membership! To become involved, sign up for the CU FIRST Newsletter, follow us on Social Media, join our Discord Server or Slack Workspace, attend our events, or Contact Us for more information.
Mentor or Coach a FIRST Team
Mentors and coaches are individuals from all backgrounds and disciplines, ranging from Engineering & Machining to Marketing & Public Relations, and everything in-between. They work with students to share their knowledge and guide them through the season. Many mentors and coaches contribute on a weekly basis during the program season, or support the team with subject matter expertise on an as needed basis.
As a mentor or coach of a FIRST® team, you are, through the students, the key ingredient in the success of your team. Your contribution to the success of FIRST programs and ultimately to the success of FIRST is immeasurable.
Interesting in Mentoring a local Team? Find out more here
Volunteer at a FIRST Event
Volunteers are the backbone of any event, and include crowd control, registration, and merchandise selling at the entry-level, all the way up to Master of Ceremonies, Referee, and Volunteer Coordinator for those with many years of FIRST® experience. Every position is critical to the event’s success, ultimately creating a seamless and incredibly fun experience for the teams and spectators in attendance.
Official FIRST events, including FLL Explore-division Festivals, FLL Challenge-division Tournaments, and FRC District Events, generally run from November to April each year and are held in cities around the world, including right here in Ottawa!
Interesting in Registering to Volunteer? Find out more here
Become a CU FIRST Director or Executive
For individuals with tighter schedules, heavier school loads, and part-time jobs, it can be difficult to dedicate the time required to Mentor a FIRST Team or Volunteer at FIRST Events. Especially during busy times of the year, like Build Season, Exams, and more, it can difficult to attend meetings regularly. However, for FIRST Alumni that still wish to continue their involvement and give back to the program, CU FIRST is proud to provide them that opportunity!
Directorships are volunteer positions within our club where our Members can assist us in the planning and management of our events and projects, while limiting the scope to allow students with tighter schedules the opportunity to contribute without a significant year-long time commitment. Examples of current and previous Directorships include: Director of FIRST Robotics Competition, Director of FIRST LEGO League, and Director of Social Media & Marketing. These Directors work to support the Executive, and are usually assigned to a portfolio (President, Internal, External, Finance) with whom they will work directly.
Learn more about Directorships or learn more about the Hiring process
The Executive is the administrative body of the organization, running day-to-day operations of the club, establishing and following through on goals, organizing events, providing services, and working to support our membership. All Members of the Executive are elected annually at the Spring General Meeting and serve a term of one year in office, from May 1st to April 30th. Following the rules set forth in the Constitution and the feedback of our members, the Executive strives to achieve CU FIRST’s mission of expanding FIRST and STEAM education throughout the National Capital Region.
Learn more about the Executive or learn more about CU FIRST Elections