GEARED UP Mentor Conference: Full Schedule

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.

10:15am EDT

FTC Registration, Without the Headache - A live walkthrough of the new FTC registration app: what's changed, how to use it, and the mistakes to skip. See it before your next event cycle.

Saturday August 8, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am EDT

Grand Ballroom C (220) FTC @ 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

A practical walkthrough of the FTC registration application: what is new, how to use it, and common pitfalls coaches run into. Includes a live demo so attendees can see the system in action before their next event cycle.

Speakers

Bonnie Crites

Senior Program Manager, FIRST Chesapeake

Exhibitors

FIRST Chesapeake

Saturday August 8, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am EDT
Grand Ballroom C (220) FTC 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

FTC, Presentation

11:30am EDT

The Road to the Inspire Award - How FTC judges really evaluate teams and how to prepare students authentically for the interview

Saturday August 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

Grand Ballroom C (220) FTC @ 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Part of a three-session series demystifying the judging process, this installment focuses on FRC. A look behind the curtain at how judges evaluate teams, what is consistent across regions, and what mentors can do to authentically prepare students for interviews, documentation, and awards.

Speakers

Shyanne Chan

Senior Judge Advisor, Chesapeake FIRST Tech Challenge

Shyanne Chan has been involved with FIRST since 2009 as a student, mentor, and volunteer. She currently serves as the Senior Judge Advisor for FIRST Chesapeake. She is passionate about helping students find their voices and creating a judging experience that is fair, consistent, and... Read More →

Saturday August 8, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
Grand Ballroom C (220) FTC 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

FTC, Presentation

1:30pm EDT

From Kitbot to Machine Shop - When custom parts beat off-the-shelf, what they make possible, and how FTC 20194 JackBots built machining into their design process.

Saturday August 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT

Grand Ballroom C (220) FTC @ 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

The Kitbot is a great way to start for any team, but it does not have to be the end! Join mentors from FTC 20194 JackBots see how one team developed their build and design process from out-of-the-box to a custom ride!

Speakers

Alicen Adkins

Saturday August 8, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Grand Ballroom C (220) FTC 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

FTC, Presentation

2:45pm EDT

Building the FLL to FTC Pipeline - Students never outgrow FIRST - stay involved from program to program.

Saturday August 8, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT

Highlands Room (300) FLL @ 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

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.

Speakers

Ryan Rich

Events & Volunteer Manager, FIRST Chesapeake

Saturday August 8, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Highlands Room (300) FLL 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

FLL, Presentation | FTC, Presentation

2:45pm EDT

CANCELED: Vision and Autonomous That Actually Work - Vision systems, autonomous routines, and AprilTags for both FTC and FRC

Saturday August 8, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT

Grand Ballroom B (275) FRC @ 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Unfortunately, due to a presenter cancellation, this session has had to be canceled. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

A panel on vision systems, autonomous routines, and AprilTag use cases, deliberately framed for both FRC and FTC audiences. Covers what actually works on the field from coaches who have made it work.

Saturday August 8, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm EDT
Grand Ballroom B (275) FRC 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

FTC, Panel | FRC, Panel

4:00pm EDT

FTC Unconference

Saturday August 8, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT

Grand Ballroom C (220) FTC @ 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

An unconference for FTC mentors: participant-driven, with the agenda set in the room. Designed to give the FTC community room to discuss what is most pressing right now, with facilitation capturing themes for the closing plenary.

Moderators

Bonnie Crites

Senior Program Manager, FIRST Chesapeake

Saturday August 8, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Grand Ballroom C (220) FTC 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

FTC, Unconference

4:00pm EDT

GEARED UP FTC / STEM HUBS in Your Neck of the Woods - Connecting with FCH parternships and STEM Hubs in your area.

Saturday August 8, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT

Conf Room 2 (35) Curriculum @ 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Information on FCH partnership with regional FTC and STEM Hub initiatives, including what resources are available in different parts of the district and how teams can plug in.

Speakers

Shelly Stoddard

Vice President, FIRST Chesapeake

Saturday August 8, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Conf Room 2 (35) Curriculum 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

FTC, Panel

9:00am EDT

FTC Resource Roundup - Tools abound to make a sucessfull team. Dig deep!

Sunday August 9, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

Grand Ballroom C (220) FTC @ 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

There are all sorts of resources and opportunities out there for new and returning mentors - but where are they? Join Shelly as we break down where the good stuff is hidden, from FTC SIM's game simulation to the Geared Up mentor program and beyond!

Speakers

Shelly Stoddard

Vice President, FIRST Chesapeake

Sunday August 9, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Grand Ballroom C (220) FTC 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

FTC, Panel

11:00am EDT

PROGRAMS TEAM OFFICE HOURS with Bonnie, Matt, and Alicia

Sunday August 9, 2026 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Conf Room 1 @ 1301 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

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.

Speakers

FRC, Unconference | FTC, Unconference | FLL, Unconference

GEARED UP Mentor Conference

10:15am EDT

Bonnie Crites

FIRST Chesapeake

11:30am EDT

Shyanne Chan

1:30pm EDT

Alicen Adkins

2:45pm EDT

Ryan Rich

2:45pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

Bonnie Crites

4:00pm EDT

Shelly Stoddard

9:00am EDT

Shelly Stoddard

11:00am EDT

Matt Sanders

Bonnie Crites

Alicia Haun

Get help with the event