Challenge Overview

In the RECF Community Challenge, a team highlights the meaningful ways they have contributed to their communities during the season. Unlike advocacy or awareness campaigns, this challenge emphasizes tangible contributions, projects, and actions where teams use their skills, creativity, and resources to make a measurable difference for others.

Tell the story of how your team has made a meaningful contribution to your community. Contributions can include solving a problem, creating or improving a service, mentoring others, collaborating with local organizations, or applying your robotics and teamwork skills in ways that make a visible impact.

Project Requirements & Components

Your submission consists of two (2) required parts: a short video presentation and a written report. To complete this challenge and be eligible for the prizes and awards you need to successfully submit both parts.

Short Video Presentation

• Maximum Video Length: 3:15 minutes
• Beginning: Video should have a 5 second beginning that includes:
  • Challenge name and season year
  • Your program (e.g., RECF Achieve)
  • Your team number (e.g., Team 111B)
• Ending: Video should have 10 second ending credits that include:
  • Challenge name 
  • Team name and number 
  • Sources (if any are used) 
• Video Submission: Submit a public link to your video.
  • The video must be publicly accessible through the submitted link and viewable by judges without requiring a password or sign-in
  • Teams should test the submitted link before submitting

Short Written Report 

• Title Page: Required. The title page does not count toward the page report limit and must include:
  • Challenge name and season year
  • Your program (e.g., RECF Achieve)
  • Your team number (e.g., Team 111B)
• Report Length: 1-3 pages for each of the three parts, not including the title page
  • Font: Arial 11 point
  • Pictures: May be included, but the report must still fit within the page limit and follow the font requirement
• Maximum Total Report Length: 10 pages, including the title page
• Report Submission
  • Submit the complete report as a PDF

Part 1: Project Proposal

• Document your brainstorming.
  • The community problem, need, or opportunity
  • Why your team chose it
  • The partners or organizations you plan to involve
• Produce a report using Arial 11 point font that is 1-3 pages. You can include pictures but the report must fit within the 3 pages. Clearly communicate the community challenge purpose, structure, and expected impact for teams and partners.

Part 2: Mid-Season Update

• Share progress after at least 2 months of activity:
  • What actions have been completed
  • Any challenges or pivots
  • Photos of your team in action
• Produce a report using Arial 11 point font that is 1-3 pages long. You can include pictures but the report must fit within the 3 pages. 

Part 3: Create Video Submission

Create a maximum of 3:15 minute video documenting your team’s experience. Your video should tell the full story:

• Initial problem or need
• Steps taken across the season
• Collaborations and partnerships
• Measurable results and impact
• Reflections on lessons learned
• Future plans to continue the project

Don’t simply record the entire activity. Select short clips that help tell the story of your team’s leadership experience.

Part 4: Create a Final Written Report

Combine the written reports you have already created for Part 1 and Part 2 with a final short summary of what your team learned from this experience. The summary should be 1-3 pages following the same requirements. 

The final report should be 4-10 pages in length including a title page that lists the name of the online challenge, the team number, and the name of the team.  

Final Reminders Before Submitting:

• Check for formatting, grammar, spelling, and clarity throughout your report and that the report is created in accordance with the requirements. 
• Confirm that your final report includes brainstorming, mid season progress, and a final summary and is saved as a PDFs for easy submission.
• Check that your video follows the instructions and is uploaded to a public site for easy submission and viewing. 
• Double-check that all media (PDF, video) is properly named and organized for submission.

Challenge Success

Your team will be successful if you can demonstrate how your project created an opportunity for others around you to experience STEM learning. The strongest projects will show outreach that was far reaching and included other organizations and groups than your own and that spanned over a longer period of time.