MERRIMACK — Chop Shop 166, the FIRST Robotics Competition team at Merrimack High School, will be hosting FIRST’s Week Zero event on Feb. 15.

The event will bring in 32 different teams from all across New England. This is the first time any team will get to compete on the 2025 “REEFSCAPE” field.

“It is an incredible honor to be selected to host FIRST’s Week Zero event,” said Matthew Gage, lead mentor of Chop Shop 166. “We cannot wait for all the teams to come to Merrimack and to begin the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition season. We would like to invite everyone to come and see FIRST’s Week Zero event. Week Zero will be a great opportunity for everyone to learn about the FIRST robotics program and see all of the opportunities for students within FIRST.”

Opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m. and qualification matches will begin at 9 a.m. Playoff matches will begin at 1:30 p.m. and closing ceremonies and awards presentations will begin at approximately 4 p.m.

FIRST is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured afterschool programs. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators and sponsors that include more than 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build and showcase their achievements during annual challenges.

An international nonprofit organization founded by accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers and a place in the FIRST community for life.