(FIRST Washington Photo)

Weasel Eggs, Mini-Taurs, LEGO Lassies, and the Cyber Cheetahs! With team names like these, you know the first annual GeekWire Robotics Cup is going to be a true geek gathering.

Join GeekWire and FIRST Washington at the GeekWire Bash on Thursday, March 7, for this invitational competition and cheer on the robots! Be a real parental hero and bring your budding geeks to experience the thrill of robotics and get kids to try their hand at engaging science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities at our giant geek festival.

General admission and kids tickets available here. Tickets include access to the entire GeekWire Bash along with limited food and drink. Learn more about the GeekWire Bash.

GeekWire is proud to present the GeekWire Robotics Cup showcasing robotics as a team sport that ignites a passion for discovery and STEM. More than 11,000 young people ages 6-18 participate in the four FIRST Washington programs supported by more than 5,000 coaches, mentors and volunteers. Come see Washington State’s most comprehensive hands-on robotics program for yourself or to inspire your junior geek.

The competition will kick off at 5 p.m. with 24 FIRST LEGO League teams from around Western Washington competing with their autonomous robots under this year’s theme “Into Orbit” — celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing. Coming from Royal City, Tukwila, Snohomish and beyond, teams will be recognized for the highest score, most spirited, furthest travel and more.

What does a robotics competition look like? Get a sneak peek below and join us for the real deal on March 7.

The robotics competition is hosted by FIRST Washington, a statewide non-profit that inspires young people ages 6-18 in exciting mentor-based robotics programs to help them develop into future STEM leaders. Learn more about FIRST Washington and their mission at firstwa.org or join them on March 15 when high school student teams will bring their robots to Olympia for the inaugural FIRST Washington Legislator Invitational.

Meet a few of the teams that will be competing in the upcoming GeekWire Robotics Cup:

Welcome to the N.E.R.D.S., a team of 10 students and one robot (“Ms. Badbird”) from North Middle School, in Everett, Wash. One team member said, “No more snow days please — I need to visit my robot, she’ll get lonely!”

The Eagle Power robotics team will travel from Nespelem, Wash, on the Colville Indian Reservation. “[The team members] are teaching their parents and community as well about opportunities that STEM affords them,” says Erin McCallum, president of FIRST Washington.

One Saghalie Robotics teammate, from TAF in Federal Way, Wash., told GeekWire why they like robotics: “It’s fun because it’s challenging to get to code. We are playing with Legos, and you can escape from regular school life.”

What better way to escape from regular school life than coming to the GeekWire Bash?

We’ll be rolling in the video game trucks for some exciting gaming action — everything from Rocket League to FIFA to Minecraft. We’ve also created a new STEM-oriented Junior Geek Zone, where partners will host fun activities like mini rocket building and a portable planetarium. Read about all the fun in-store for junior geeks at the Bash.

Grab tickets for the Bash here or below. Kids 17 and under are only $25!

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