Participant Events
The Tech Challenge is more than just a weekend. It is a rich and intensive program with supporting events that will help participants get the most out of this experience.
Event Times
Our Showcase takes place April 27 and 28, 2024, but The Tech Challenge is more than just a weekend. It is a rich and intensive program with supporting events that will help participants get the most out of this experience.
Adviser Training
1:15 to 2:15 p.m.
Advisers: You should attend an info clinic before you attend adviser training. You can attend in-person or review our online mini courses.
Training emphasizes support strategies, student safety and ways to help guide your team to a rewarding Tech Challenge experience. Parents and teachers who are not advisers are also welcome. This training is especially useful for first-time advisers. Advisers must be at least 18 years old. One adviser per team is recommended. Registration is required and attendance may be limited.
Info Clinic
10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
Come to an in-person Info Clinic or review the online Info Clinic mini-course to learn about the challenge. Info clinics are where team members and advisers learn about the challenge and its rules. At the in-person event, there will be the opportunity to ask questions of our staff and head judges. Registration is required and attendance may be limited.
Team Workshop
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
These 2 hour, in-person workshops let students dive deep into the engineering design process. Participants will develop brainstorming, presentation, design, building and testing skills, and learn how to innovate through failure. Registration is required and attendance may be limited.
Test Trials
This is an opportunity for teams to test their solutions on official rigs and get feedback from judges.
- What should my team expect? Each test trial slot lasts for approximately 50 minutes and multiple teams will be able to participate in each time slot. The Tech Challenge provides test rigs, judging staff, extra safety gear and launch pad clamps in case teams forget to bring their own.
- What should we bring? Teams should bring their devices and launchers to test. It is highly recommended that teams bring their own ANSI-approved eye protection and head protection (e.g., bump hats, bicycle helmets, hardhats, or athletic helmets).
- Keep in mind: No AC power is available to teams at test trials.
Teams are encouraged to attend multiple test trials. Registration is required and all test trials will be in-person this year. If your team cannot attend a test trial you have registered for, we must receive notice of cancellation no less than 48 hours before the test trial. Failure to give adequate notice may result in the team being removed from future test trials.