Team 2609
Beaverworx
Competitive robotics in Guelph, Ontario. Every year we design, build, and compete a new robot in the FIRST Robotics Competition.
FIRST Robotics Competition Team 2609
Founded in 2008, Team 2609 Beaverworx is where the Beaverworx program began, and it has been inspiring the next generation of leaders in STEM ever since. Based out of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School in Guelph and operating as part of Royal City Community Robotics, these very busy beavers compete annually in the FIRST Robotics Competition, sharing the program's mentors and facilities with Beaverworx's two FTC teams.
Within this competition, students work alongside teachers, volunteers, and industry mentors to design, build, and program 120-pound robots capable of performing highly complex tasks, all under a tight timeline, strict constraints, and real-world engineering challenges.
- Hands-onFrom CAD to competition, students carry the robot through design, fabrication, and testing.
- TeamworkStudents, teachers, volunteers, and industry mentors work side by side all season, coaching and building together.
- Open to all skillsEngineering, software, fabrication, media, outreach, and project management all have a place.
FIRST Robotics Competition
Team 2609 competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST's program for high school students in grades 9–12. Teams design, build, and program industrial-sized robots to play a new game every season, working in alliances in the spirit of Coopertition.
Guided by adult mentors, students get a 360-degree experience: engineering and code, but also building a team identity, fundraising, and advocating for STEM in their community.
How a season works
- 1A brand-new game is revealed at Kickoff each January, and every team starts from the same Kit of Parts.
- 2Over the following weeks, students design, fabricate, wire, and program a robot from scratch to play that game.
- 3At events, teams join three-team alliances for head-to-head matches, with an autonomous period followed by driver control.
- 4Judges also recognize teams for their engineering, design, and impact on their community, not just match results.
- 5In Ontario, teams compete at district events, then the FIRST Ontario Provincial Championship and the FIRST Championship.
Featured robot
Meet Spin Cycle, our 2026 robot. Past seasons, back to 2022, are on the Robots & Projects page.
Awards & achievements
Since 2008, Team 2609 has won 26 awards at district, provincial, and world championship events. These are the ones that stand out.
Milestone wins
- 2023
FIRST Championship Winner
Einstein Field, Houston, Texas
- 2023
Hopper Division Winner
FIRST Championship, Houston, Texas
- 2023
Judges' Award
FIRST Ontario Provincial Championship
- 2022
District Event Winner
ONT District North Bay Event
- 2009
Regional Winner
Waterloo Regional
- 2008
Rookie All Star Award
Waterloo Regional, in the team's first season
Judged & technical awards
- ×5Innovation in Control Award
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2026
- 2026
- ×5Creativity Award
- 2009
- 2018
- 2018
- 2023
- 2023
- ×2Excellence in Engineering Award
- 2017
- 2018
- ×1Team Sustainability Award
- 2025
- ×6District & regional finalist runs
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2020
- 2022
- 2023
Full record: Team 2609 on The Blue Alliance
Four focus areas
Competition
Each season the team designs, builds, and competes a robot for that year's FIRST Robotics Competition game, then takes it to official events.
Technical development
Students work hands-on across mechanical design, fabrication, electronics, and software, learning tools and processes used in industry.
Leadership
Team members lead subteams, manage timelines and budgets, document decisions, and help newer students take on more responsibility.
Outreach & community
The team shares robotics with the local community through demonstrations, events, and support for students getting started in STEM.