Frequently Asked Questions

Our team originally began in 2017 as a small team of 13 excited kids. They had absolutely no idea what name the team and named themselves "To Be Determined". Eventually, they realized that the name itself was an accurate depiction of the team, symbolizing the determination and grit present in the team. Thus, the name "2B Determined" was born, as it continues to be representative of our team's culture.

You can look at our recruiting page.

You do not need any experience to join the team. Most people who've joined the team have no prior experience and learn everything they do from our lovely mentors and leads who have experience in all of these topics.

Unfortunately, FRC is a program for high schoolers only, but we offer various opportunities for non-high schoolers to explore STEM. Three of our camps are offered to kids at various ages and backgrounds.

Lower level FIRST teams are also offered. FIRST Lego League (FLL) is an elementary schooler grade-level competition and our community has various teams to join. For middle schoolers, FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is an option, allowing middle schoolers & high schoolers to participate in the creation of smaller robots. Unfortunately, there are no FTC teams in our area as they always need parents to help start up the program, however, you can reach out to us if you're interested in starting that up!

Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST®, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is a global nonprofit organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of life-changing youth robotics programs that build skills, confidence, and resilience. 

A robotics competition for high school students where they design and build semi-autonomous machines to compete. The competition's values are "Gracious Professionalism" and "Coopertition". The goal is to inspire students to be leaders in science and technology.

During the off season (May - December) we meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 6-9 PM. During the build season (January -  April) we meet every weekday from 6 PM-9 PM and Saturday from 9 AM - 5 PM. Scheduled lab times may differ, check out our calendar for an exact schedule.

We meet at the West Linn High School at the back of the 700 Building in Rooms 709 & 715. 

For detailed information check out this.

The robotics team provides a safe and comfortable learning environment for students to explore their passions in STEM! We spend 6 weeks building a robot and putting our hearts and souls into it. Alongside that, we are a constant presence in our community, 

Our build season starts in the beginning of January and continues through February. For information about our meeting times, you can look here. We will have our first competition in late February or early March and will compete at our second competition later. 

If we do well enough, we will then progress to the district regional competition, in early April, sometimes held in Washington, other times held in Oregon. AND then, if we do well enough, we will attend the FIRST World Championship Competition in mid April. Then, our season ends and we begin our off-season activities.

As much as we enjoy a good demolition derby, our games promote non-destructive gameplay. FRC, the competition we compete under, encourages for coopertive gameplay where you and compete against other teams at their best, meaning no intentional damage is done to other teams.

Initial team registration is $175 for our team, covering food expenses, your team shirt, and basic funds for each student's team. There are also optional travel competitions in which more money will be necessary to attend to support travel expenses, food, and housing during the event. 

Yes, you can do multiple subteams and learn a variety of skills. We encourage you to explore as many things as you want and step out of your comfort zone—even if you find out you don't like it!

The robotics team functions as a Class, Club, and a Team.

Our Class part involves receiving a grade based off of various assignments, including your representation of FIRST through your conduct and actions. There are also assignments and small grades for check-ins, such as the syllabus quiz which quizzes your knowledge on the class's basics. Your grade also goes toward a CTE pathway at West Linn High School, meaning you can also earn a cord at your graduation.

We are a team in which we participate at FIRST events and interact with the FIRST community. We participate in off-season FIRST events like Girls Generation & BunnyBots and also participate in the yearly FIRST Robotics Competition game. 

Lastly, we are present in our community as year-long club. We aim to reach out through our school, West Linn, and the greater Pacific Northwest to host events and spread our influence. We also host 3 great STEM camps that you can find more information about here.

Check out our How To Become a Sponsor Page for information.