Robotics

CSA District offers the full complement of FIRST programs to engage students from Kindergarten through High School. The mission of FIRST aligns with our District’s mission and educational philosophies.

The two core tenants of FIRST are Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition. The former aims to teach students that regardless of whether they are competing with or against each other, it is always important to be kind and helpful. The latter is the melding together of cooperation and competition; the expectation that teams will help and cooperate regardless of whether they are competing with or against each other.

All CSA District FIRST teams are administered by the Student Enrichment Program and are pay-to-participate programs.

Robotics by Level

ELEMENTARY

Early elementary students and their adult coaches create together as they explore science and technology in FIRST LEGO League Explore. Our District hosts multiple teams each year. Students learn about getting along with others and how to collaborate as young problem solvers. 

Upper elementary students join the CSA Minerals, our District’s FIRST LEGO League Challenge team. Students build robots and learn the basics of programming with Lego Mindstorms. They encounter a world of science and technology and gain confidence as they meet obstacles and challenges.

Middle SChool

Middle School students join the CSA Middle School Miners, our District’s FIRST Tech Challenge team. Guided by mentors, the team designs and builds 18” x 18” robots to battle in a FIRST-designed contest of ingenuity and innovation. In 2018, the CSAMS Miners won the FIRST in Michigan State Championship.

High School

The ultimate varsity sport is the CSPA High School Gems, our District’s FIRST Robotics Competition team. Together, team members and their industry mentors design and build large-scale robots, then battle other teams in fierce 3 vs. 3 competitions. In 2019, the Gems won the FIRST in Michigan State Championship. The team celebrated its 10th season in 2020 and was also named a Top 20 Michigan Team of the Decade.