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Impact

Playing At Learning has served 25,000+ young people since 2004.

2019-2020 Season

  • Over 8,000 K-12 participants, overall with estimated 35% girls as well as 10% underrepresented minority (URM) and 8% High Need population
  • Organized and Supported the following events :
    • 35 FIRST LEGO League competitions and multiple in person and webinar based trainings
    • 21 FIRST Tech Challenge competitions, plusĀ  1 season kickoff event, scrimmages and multiple trainings
    • 10 plus FIRST LEGO League Jr expos (not all confirmed for this season)
  • Engaged well over 2,000 Event Volunteers for an estimated total of 20,000+ Event Volunteer Hours
  • Supported over 2,300 Team Coaches and Mentors for the 1,000+ teams that provided an estimated total of 100,000+ Coach/Mentor volunteer hours in direct support of youth in FLL Jr, FLL, and FTC programs
ā€œI wanted to thank you for this opportunity. Ā Our team will be the first team in our school to ever to participate in FLL. Our girls know this is a great opportunity for them and everyday we get to witness and celebrate their small achievements. Ā I have heard them say things like "it's time to go already!", or "I never thought building LEGOs was fun". Ā This is a learning experience for all of us and I hope that it can inspire both teachers and students to do more STEM activities.ā€ Ā Aldo, from The Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County Ā (All girl, rookie team from East San Jose)

Longitudinal studies have found that FIRST programsā€™ participants are twice as likely to pursue STEM careers relative to those who do not go through these programs. Ā And FIRST programs are most impactful to girls.

Even more than STEM skills, students, through a mentoring partnership with working engineers and scientists, are building self-esteem and self-confidence. They are developing critical life skills such as project management, strategy, teamwork, problem solving, and appreciation of diversity. The students also have an opportunity to hone their interpersonal skills at marketing, communications and public relations as they form alliances with other teams and are interviewed by a panel of judges. In short, students who participate in FIRST programs are better equipped to succeed in the real world, in whatever career they choose to pursue, STEM or any other. Ā Ā 

More details about FIRST Longitudinal Study

Congratulations Tigerbots’ member, Eden!