Nov 28, 2023 By Melissa Gibson 3 min read

What kid hasn’t dreamt about building their own robot?

The nonprofit Titanium Titans invites them to do just that.

Through the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) program, Washington County students from kindergarten through grade 12, are challenged to use real-world engineering skills to build a multi-functional robot with a variety of specifications.

“Our goal is to allow students to grow as individuals and work as a team. We teach STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills through robotics but there are so many intangible skills too, such as leadership, problem solving and decision making,” said Dan Chismar, the nonprofit’s board president and mentor.

Mentors walk students through the process and come from a variety of backgrounds. Some work in the engineering field, while others are Titanium Titans alumni.

In addition to the Titanium Titans Team 4467, other programs are offered to entice younger children to get involved.

“We offer workshops throughout the year for younger students. The LEGO Robots program exposes younger people to robotics and varies from teaching measurements and following a recipe to building a very basic robot,” Chismar said.

The workshops typically last around three hours and based on age bracket, the challenges continue to increase.

Even though working with technology can be expensive, it’s important to mentors and the board to be accessible to everyone.

The Titanium Titans never turn a student away due to financial hardship.

“Our number one challenge is funding. We spend about $30,000 per year to build the robot. There are additional costs to purchase kits used for the younger student programming, so finding sponsorships is very important,” Chismar said.

Each team incurs competition fees and often traveling fees. They are also in need of equipment such as a 3D printers, drill presses and other machine shop needs.

Additional mentors are always welcome and can serve in a variety of roles.

“We need volunteers that can help lead a group but also someone that can help with fundraising or writing grants,” Chismar said. “There are lots of different ways to get involved.”

Most importantly, the Titanium Titans are looking for students.

Atypical to many nonprofit organizations, this one has a large turnover rate as students graduate and head off for college, leaving fewer mentors in the program until others rise to the occasion.

In order to keep the program thriving, new students, mentors and funds are needed throughout the year.

The Titanium Titans will host two outreach events on Dec. 2 and 16, inviting youth to enjoy some engineering fun. Details will be released on their website soon.

For more information or to donate to the Titanium Titans visit https://titaniumtitans.org/.