FTC is for youth from 6th-12th grade, on teams of up to 15 students. The season begins in early September with a challenge release, and competitions occur between November and February, with FIRST Chesapeake hosting a regional championship in mid-February.

New River Robotics Association supports Team 4924, the Red Beard Pandas, formerly the Tuxedo Pandas. The team philosophy is to focus on the younger side of the age range, typically middle school, but high school students are welcomed, too. We support our Montgomery County Public Schools in their robotics curriculum in both middle and high schools.

The Red Beard Pandas keep an awesome web page and Facebook presence @4924Pandas, as well as YouTube Channel with NRrobotics.