Progression: FLL, FTC, FRC

[Scott_4140]

Originally Posted by Corey Oostveen

I strongly believe that if FIRST wants to grow it will need to go back to its initial design and stop promoting FTC as a lower budget FRC program for high schools.

When you say FIRST, I assume you’re talking about FRC. FLL and FTC have fantastic growth curves. If your only concern is FRC then I understand your arguments about how to promote FTC.

If you concern is to grow all FIRST programs, then you need to go where you’re growth potential lies. For FTC that’s smaller schools, organizations like 4-H, scouts, boys & girls clubs, or neighborhood teams. FRC requires more bodies and a lot more money than these types of organizations can typically pull together. FTC is a perfect fit.

Beyond that, the structure of FTC and FRC are different. Ones not better than the other. Ones not more advanced than the other. Each has their strengths and weaknesses beyond the almighty dollar. I think FIRST should actually increase their promotion of FTC and treat it as a full fledged parallel path for High School students.

The growth potential for FRC lies in reducing the cost.