Welcome to GEARED UP 2026: Mentor Conference! Join us at James Madison University’s Festival Conference & Student Center in Harrisonburg, VA, for two days of learning, connection, and community.
You power 10,000+ students across DC, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. This day is built for YOU. Whether you’re a rookie coach launching your first team or a 20-year veteran looking for fresh ideas, you’ll find sessions, workshops, and conversations designed to sharpen your skills and recharge your passion.
Proudly presented by Aramco Americas. See you in Harrisonburg.
Speak with judges on the FLL Innovation Project judging process. Help your team be prepared for judging, and think about what Innovation is meant to instill.
A third installment of the judging series, focused on FLL: Core Values evaluation, Innovation Project assessment, and practical guidance for coaches preparing teams for competition. Completes a cross-program set so mentors who attend multiple sessions get a full picture of how judging works across FIRST.
Strategies and lessons learned for moving students from FLL into FTC. Covers the timing, the skills gap to plan for, communication with parents and feeder schools, and the structural decisions that make the pipeline work consistently.
An unconference for FLL coaches: participant-driven, with content emerging from the room. Particularly valuable given the LEGO Education transition and the documented isolation FLL coaches feel at mentor conferences nationally, this is a chance to compare notes with peers.
A working session on the future of FLL: navigating the LEGO Education transition, planning for the BioGlow season, and the path forward as FIRST develops its own K-8 programming.
Open office hours with the FCH programs team — drop in for an org-chart walkthrough, registration help, contact-routing questions, or open Q&A. A standing resource throughout the day for mentors who want direct access to staff.
