ABOUT

The Olympia Robotics Federation (ORF) is a high-performance team from three Olympia high schools: Olympia, Capital, and Avanti operating under the umbrella of FIRST Washington. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an organization that inspires students around the world by organizing robotics competitions.

Although we use competitive robotics as a learning platform, our team is so much more than robots. We create partnerships with businesses and local sponsors, do public outreach at events such as Harbor Day and Capitol Lake Fair. We support STEM education in middle schools and high schools. We learn computer science and engineering principles, critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, business, and project management, wrapped into a fun, hands-on experience. We pride ourselves on developing leadership skills and the ability to represent Olympia in regional and national competitions and in our annual trip to the state legislature to support STEM funding.

The team strives for excellence by building on student leadership with mentor support. We have won awards every year of our team competitions at the local and regional levels and we have gone to the World Championships in three out of our first five years. We are a diverse team representing a range of ethnicities, identities, and economic classes with over 20% female members and 4% trans members.

Our Mission

The ongoing mission of The Olympia Robotics Federation is to provide all students with the skills and confidence to succeed in the pathways they wish to pursue. We strive to educate and provide opportunities to other students in STEAM communities locally, and worldwide using FIRST values, and gracious professionalism as a guide to create a future where STEAM fields are honored and used to better the lives of all inhabitants of the planet.

Core Values

S.T.A.R.T.R.E.K.

Safety | Our members are committed to making everyone feel safe, whether it be physically, emotionally, or socially. We create a safe learning environment where everyone feels cared for and protected.

Teamwork | Our members collaborate in all aspects to constantly improve our team as a whole. We all have diverse skills, knowledge, and backgrounds so we bring them together by combining our efforts, ideas, and resources to be productive.

Acceptance | Our members treat everyone equally without discrimination of any form. We are inclusive and welcoming to all regardless of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, disabilities, or religion.

Responsibility | Our members hold each other accountable for our actions, decisions, and obligations. We are committed to our work and complete our tasks on time, all while meeting expectations. We also hold integrity in our personal and professional lives.

Trust | ORF is more than just a robotics team, we’re a family that’s built on trust. We trust each other to act with good intentions, honesty, and competence. We behave consistently and reliably with open communication.  

Respect | Our members respect both mentors and students by listening to each other’s ideas, making an effort to include all members in discussions/activities, and aiming to make decisions through consensus which takes into account the input and concerns of all team members. Respect in our team helps us create an inclusive, communicative, and supportive environment where every member feels valued and heard. 

Exploration | Our members have a strong desire to explore and discover new skills in the world of STEAM. We are curious individuals who are motivated and encourage each other to explore new ideas, challenge assumptions, and expand our knowledge and understanding.

Knowledge | Our members continuously learn and grow our knowledge. We learn from each other and also teach others. We think critically, adapt to situations, and make decisions based on our knowledge.