Programs & Services

Competitive Robotics: FTC Team #20169

Our main program is The Quackens, a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics team. Each season, students design, build, and program a robot to take on a new game challenge, then compete against teams from across Idaho and beyond. Along the way, students learn mechanical design, CAD, programming, and strategy. They also learn to document their engineering work, manage a budget, and present to judges.

What the PTSA provides

• Fundraising for robot parts, tools, and materials
• Season and competition registration fees
• Travel support for qualifiers, championships, and national events
• Coordination of parent volunteers, mentors, and community partners

Highlights

• 2025–26: Representing Idaho at the US Governors Cup in Washington, DC
• 2023–24: Design Award winner at the Idaho FTC Championships
• 2022–23: Design Award runner-up at the Idaho FTC Championships

STEM Outreach

Our students share what they learn by bringing robots and hands-on activities to schools and community events. These events help younger students and families see that engineering and coding are fun and within their reach. Recent outreach includes:

• Hunter Elementary STEM Night
• Gowen Airfield community showcase
• 2024 FIRST Season Kickoff
• 2024 Community Night demonstrations

Mentoring & Family Engagement

Older students mentor a younger FIRST LEGO League team and pass on their engineering and teamwork skills. Parents, educators, and community volunteers mentor and support our students throughout the season. Families help with build sessions, events, and travel.

Growing Our Programs

We plan to expand Quackens PTSA to support more teams and more STEM opportunities for students. If you would like to help us grow, please get in touch.