Techalongs head to Worlds!

The Techalongs, FIRST Tech Challenge Team 17062, a group of nine dedicated Girl Scouts, have won the prestigious Inspire Award at the Arizona State Championship, securing their place at the upcoming FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship in Houston from April 16-19, 2025.​ They are one of just three teams to represent Arizona in the competition.

The Techalongs, composed of Girl Scouts from troops 2010, 2256, 4727, 4338, 7076, and 4202, range in age from 12 to 18. These young innovators represent a diverse set of schools, including ​Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center, Scottsdale Preparatory, BASIS Scottsdale, Cheyenne, Copper Ridge, Desert Mountain, Sunrise Middle School, and Desert Canyon Middle School.

The Inspire Award is the highest honor in FIRST Tech Challenge, recognizing teams that exemplify excellence in robot design, engineering, teamwork, and community outreach. Winning this award reflects The Techalongs’ dedication to STEM education,

leadership, and service, embodying the core values of both FIRST and the Girl Scouts. In addition to their competitive success, the Techalongs are passionate advocates for women in STEM. They regularly hold badge workshops ​ and run a summer camp ​for young Girl Scouts​ to inspire the next generation of female engineers and innovators. The team is also proud to be FIRST Like a Girl and m.e. (menstrual equity) FIRST Ambassadors, furthering their mission to support and mentor young women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The Techalongs have not only built an impressive robot to address the challenges of this year’s game, “Into the Deep,” but have also engaged in community outreach by mentoring a FIRST Lego League team​ and promoting FIRST in the​ir school and Girl Scout communit​ies throughout the year. As they prepare for the World Championship in Houston, they continue to fundraise and refine their engineering skills to compete against top teams from around the globe.

For those interested in supporting the Techalongs on their journey to the World Championship, please follow their progress on https://www.instagram.com/ftc_techalongs/.

About FIRST Tech Challenge: FIRST Tech Challenge is an international robotics competition where teams design, build, and program robots to complete specific challenges. The program emphasizes teamwork, innovation, and real-world problem-solving, preparing students for future careers in STEM fields.

Mother’s Day Tea 2025

Mother’s Day Tea 2025

Mothers, daughters, grandmothers, aunts, and dear friends of all ages are welcome!

Tea and brunch fare will be served.  

Lots of fun activities, games, and a chance to win prizes!

When: Saturday, April 26 2025, 9:30-10 a.m.

Where: Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

Admission:

• In advance: $4 with donation* ($6 without donation)
• At the door: $7 with donation* ($9 without donation)

Sign up here.

Payment: Checks should be made out to Pima Neighborhood, or parents may Venmo. Troops may not pay via Venmo. 

*Accepting donations of full-size personal hygiene products (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, soap bars) for women in residence at Sojourner Center

Pima Jammin'

From April 17 to 19th, Pima Neighborhood presents "Pima Camp Jammin,'" The ULTIMATE "glamping" camping experience at Parson's Leadership Center at South Mountain! 

Get ready for a weekend of outdoor fun and exploration with friends. Our theme this year will be "The Great Girl Scout Cookie Mystery!"

Note that we will have camp Thurs-Sat because of the Easter holiday.  We will offer no-meat meals on Friday for those who observe.

Younger girls may register as an individual or troop. Older girls must register individually.

Younger girls will arrive Friday, April 18th between 8:30-9am.
Older girls are to arrive Thursday April 17th between 4-6pm.
Camp is over at 9:30am Saturday, April 19th.

More info and sign up here!  https://forms.gle/dQYainBK72eVwaw57

Please email graziacaramucci@gmail.com with any and all questions.  -- Sass

Open Robotics Lab

The Techalongs are available every Sunday in March from 12 to 3 for badge workshops or just for your troop to drop in and do a Meet and Greet (about an hour).  We are keeping our lab assembled for these visits until April!  Come on in to drive robots, earn a badge, learn some code, or learn about the engineering design process.

Sign up here and let us know whether you'd like to just do a troop visit (requirement for Showcasing Robots badges) or if you'd like to earn a badge.  Visit length will depend on what you want to do.

Cookies for the Military

Troop donations for the military can be dropped off at Diana's house from February 24th to March 15th.

Small donations (less than 3 cases) can be left at my front door, just let me know you are coming. Please do not place them directly in front of the door; this is a tripping hazard.

Large donations: email ahead so that we can transfer them directly into the garage. (Addresses and emails are on the neighborhood roster or in the private Facebook group).

Please bring your cookies in the right cases! Even if it is just one box, please bring all cookies in the right case.  The donations will be in the thousands and the base needs to pallet them up for the journey. We need full cases in the right boxes to do that.