Earn Your Tech Credit. Build Real Robots.
Grade 9 to 12 students can earn their compulsory technology credit through a free after-school robotics course at Our Lady of Lourdes. Students learn engineering, manufacturing, programming, problem solving, and teamwork through hands-on FIRST robotics.
How the course is structured
This is how the 2026/27 robotics course is structured, not a general rule. FTC and FRC are independent FIRST programs for different age groups.
Two Competitions. One Course.
This year, the course gives students the opportunity to take part in both FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition over the same season.
FIRST Tech Challenge
Students begin by designing, building, and programming their own FTC robot, applying the engineering design process and developing their technical skills from the ground up.
- Learn the engineering design process
- Develop foundational robot design skills
- Learn programming
- Manufacture and build robot components
- Integrate complete robot systems
- Work as a team to prepare for competition
Students ultimately compete with their own robot at an official FTC competition.
FIRST Robotics Competition
Students take the skills and experience built through FTC and apply them on a much larger scale, working alongside FRC Team 2609 Beaverworx on an FRC competition robot.
Working with FRC Team 2609, students contribute to the design, manufacturing, programming, integration, and operation of a larger and significantly more advanced FRC competition robot.
What You'll Learn
Real engineering and manufacturing experience, built up through five course units over the season.
- 1Safety & Introduction to Robotics
- 2Problem Solving & Design
- 3Programming Fundamentals
- 4Robot Integration
- 5Culminating Project
- Robot Design
- Manufacturing
- Programming
- Building Robots
- Problem Solving
- Teamwork
The Course & Beaverworx
The Robotics Course and Beaverworx's competition teams are connected, but they aren't the same thing. The course is an academic pathway within the program; the teams are extracurricular.
Academic credit
Structured, in-class learning for Grade 9 to 12 students working toward their compulsory tech credit (TAS 2O).
Extracurricular teams
FRC Team 2609 and FTC Teams 38290 KitBotz and 38291 Moose on the Loose: year-round competition, outreach, leadership, and room to specialize further.
Students can take part in both. On course days, students have the option to stay after class hours to join in team activities, taking what they learn in class and applying it to real competitive robotics. Joining a team is separate from enrolling in the course; see the Join page to apply.
No Experience Required.
Never programmed, used CAD, or touched a power tool before? That's completely normal. Every student is taught the fundamentals from scratch and builds their skills throughout the program. This course is where that experience starts, not something you're expected to already have.
Course details for this school year
Dates and schedule below are specific to the 2026/27 school year and are set by Wellington Catholic DSB.
- Who
- Grade 9 to 12 students
- Credit
- Compulsory technology credit (TAS 2O)
- Cost
- Free
- Experience
- No previous experience required
- Location
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School, 54 Westmount Rd, Guelph, Room 109
- Available to students from
- Our Lady of Lourdes, St. James, Bishop Macdonell & St. John Bosco Catholic High Schools
- Transportation
- Students are responsible for their own transportation
- Course dates
- October 14 to May 19
- Course schedule
- Wednesday: 4:30 – 8:00 PM · Monday (optional): 4:30 – 8:30 PM
- Registration
- Speak with your school guidance counsellor to enroll. Deadline: October 14.
Interested in the Robotics Course?
Talk to your school guidance counsellor about enrolling in the Grade 9 to 12 after-school robotics course. Registration deadline: October 14, 2026.