Details

Refer to the load in map below, where you may park at the unload location and bring your belongings to your pit.  It’s a long load-in path, so please bring your dollies, robot carts and tarps if it rains.  Please be respectful of the parking and event staff to load-in your items as efficient and safely as possible.

Please ensure your team is in proper safety attire (safety glasses, closed-toe shoes).   Up to 5 team reps (which must include 1 adult) will be allowed into the pit area to setup.  The team may have additional team members helping with unloading your vehicles/trailer, but again only 5 members are allowed in the pit.

Per the Venue Rules designed for your safety, please do not bring compressed gas tanks.  Please ensure that all of your items fit in your designated pit area.  For any questions on what to bring to inspection, see Inspection and Eligibility Rules.

Load In Map

Parking

After unloading, please park in a parking lot designated as General Parking on the map above.  Ensure you park on pavement and avoid parking on the sand, which  may casue your vehicle to get stuck!

Trailer parking is available in the location designated on the map. Although there will be overnight security and cameras in that location, you are still advised to park at your own risk.

Built on top of a sand dune with spectacular views of Monterey Bay, Seaside High School is the location of the FIRST Monterey Bay Regional.

Parking

Seaside High has numerous parking lots on its campus.  Please note that you must park on pavement and avoid parking on the sand, which may cause your vehicle to get stuck!  Besides parking at Seaside High there is also street parking along Noche Buena St. in the adjacent neighborhood.  To reduce your environmental footprint in this beautiful area, please carpool!

Download the parking map here.

Campus Map

FIRST will spread across the lovely Seaside High School campus.  We ask that you kindly exhibit Gracious Professionalism and pick up your trash so it does not blow into the marvelous Monterey Bay!

Download the campus map here.

Available Thursday to Saturday, food for purchase is available at concessions throughout the day and food trucks during lunchtime.  There is also a variety of restaurants within a 15min walk from Seaside High School.

Teams are welcome to bring their own food.  Food must be stored in the team’s picnic area in the courtyard.  No food is permited indoors.

Do I need a booster to be “fully vaccinated” for COVID-19?

Booster shots are NOT required by the U.S. Center for Disease Control to be “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19.  You are fully COVID-19 vaccinated > 2 weeks after a 2-dose series OR > 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine.

What is needed to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination?

The following are acceptable as proof of vaccination (i) the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) vaccination card, which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided, and date last dose administered, or similar documentation issued by another foreign governmental jurisdiction, (ii) an electronic or printed photo of a vaccination card (iii) a personal digital COVID-19 vaccine record issued by the State of California and available by going to https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov or similar documentation issued by another State, local, or foreign governmental jurisdiction.

California residents may show your Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record, which is a QR code widely accepted in the State of California.

What type of COVID-19 test and result is needed in place of vaccination?

A COVID-19 test must be done within 1 day for an antigen test or within 2 days for a PCR test before entry to the event. Acceptable proof includes a printed document from a test provider or laboratory, OR an electronic test result displayed on a phone or other device from a test provider or laboratory.

Negative COVID-19 test information must include the person’s name, type of test performed, and negative test result. Self-attestation of an over-the-counter test will not be accepted.

Is a COVID-19 test required each day of the event?

Attendence on March 24, March 25 and March 26 meets the criteria for a “mega-event”.  Therefore, the Monterey Bay Regional is a 3-day mega-event, so attendees providing negative COVID-19 test results must provide ONLY ONE TEST RESULT FOR THE WHOLE EVENT.  You must present the negative test result upon your inital arrival to the event.

Do I need to show COVID vaccination proof or negative test result onsite at the event or in advance?

All attendees (teams and volunteers) must bring your proof of vaccination or negative test result to the event on your first day of attending the regional.  Adults are also required to show a photo ID with their vaccination proof.

If you are a volunteer, please DO NOT send vacccination proof to your Volunteer Coordinator, as volunteers will also provide vaccine proof or negative test result onsite at the event.

How do team members check-in?

One of the team’s lead mentor must bring 2 paper copies of their team roster, one for entry wristbands and another for pit admin.  To get an entry wristband, each person on the roster must show their proof of vaccination or negative test, and adults must show a photo ID. 

Adult team lead mentors will NOT receive wristbands for their entire team, as each person’s vaccination or negative test must be verified individually by event staff. This process is required by the state of California and we appreciate your patience and Gracious Professionalism to get everyone into the venue timely. 

As Wednesday is not under the “mega-event” criteria, teams do not require a wristband for entry to load-in their pit.  However, it is recommended that team members bring vaccine/test proof on Wednesday to get their wristbands for the weekend to ease lines on Thursday morning.

Must the whole team be present to enter the event?

Not all team members must be present to enter the venue together.  However, alead mentor must be the first to arrive onsite with the team roster that lists those who are permited to enter.  If team members arrive after the lead mentor, then they must check in at the entrance and staff will have the provided team roster to verify people individually.  

Is there a maximum number of team members and mentors who can attend?

Besides the designated hours for team load-in on Thursday evening and Friday morning, there will be no team member or mentor limit.  Team members and mentors will be permitted to attend ONLY if they are on the FIRST roster for the team, who is competing at the event. Please ensure your lead mentor invites all youth members and mentors from their FIRST dashboard.

What is the team pit size and will there be limited number of team members in pits?

Team pit size is 8’x10′. Due to COVID precautions and a smaller pit size, there will be a maximum of 7 people (includes both students and mentors) permitted in your pit.  It is recommended that you set up a team area outside on Seaside High School’s beautiful campus. 

There are two pit locations.  Pit A is adjacent to the competition gym.  Pit A pits are 10′ wide by 8′ deep and teams with numbers less than 4200 are in Pit A.  Pit B is in a separate building from the competition gym.  Pit B pits are 8′ wide by 10′ deep and team with numbers greater than 4200 are in Pit B.

Do I have to wear a face mask?

Yes, face masks are REQUIRED, even if the county/state does not require them.  As this is an international event, we will take a conservative approach to safety in this pandemic.  As such, masks are required for all attendees.

Masks must be worn while indoors except when actively eating or drinking.  Masks must also be worn properly with both the nose and mouth covered.

Can I wear a cloth mask?

Cloth masks, along with face shields, bandanas, single-layer gaiters and masks with exhalation valves worn alone are prohibited.

Surgical masks or higher-level respirators (e.g., N95, KN95, KF94) are REQUIRED for each attendee.  Teams must bring an adequate supply of face masks for their members.

Will safety glasses be available to borrow at the event?

Teams (students and mentors) are required to bring their own personal safety glasses, as there will be NO on-site safety glasses to borrow. Each team should bring their own safety glass cleaning supplies; anti-fog spray is also recommended.

Can we bring team food to the regional?

Yes, outside food is permitted on the Seaside campus, but not permitted inside the competition gym or pit gyms. Food for purchase is available at concessions, and at lunchtime food trucks will be outside the venue.

Are spectators allowed to come to the event?

To maximize the number of FIRST students to participate at the robotics competition and maximize space for them to socially distance, spectators are NOT PERMITTED.

Attendees permitted are youth members, mentors and volunteers registered with FIRST to compete or volunteer at the 2022 Monterey Bay Regional.  Team Lead Mentors are responsible to bring a team roster, which will be checked to give team members entrance wristbands.

Can a team supporter/parent drop off students/food/supplies to the event for the team?

Seaside High School is an open campus, so team supporters may be outside only.  People not on the FIRST team roster will NOT receive a wristband to go inside the competition gym or pit gyms.  

Is there a parking fee?

There are no parking fees at Seaside High School. Ensure you park on the pavement only. Seaside is on a sand dune often requiring vehicles parking off pavement to be towed out.

Is there trailer parking?

Refer to the Seaside campus map that has designated trailer parking.  There are cameras in that location and there will be overnight security.  However, park at your own risk and ensure that you have the trailer secure and wheels locked. 

Welcome to the 2022 FIRST Robotics Competition Kick-Off of

RAPID REACT, presented by the Boeing Company!

Kick-off in the Monterey area is graciously hosted at Chartwell School in Seaside on January 8, 2022.  This unique year there will be no broadcast, only a kit pickup.  See detailed email instructions that include a campus map and kit pickup times from your Kick-off Coordinator.

Worldwide Broadcast

• Please watch with your team on your devices, in your own homes or build spaces.
• The preshow begins at 8:30am PT on FIRSTtv and the Kick-off broadcast begins at 9:00am PT.
• Note, some schools do not allow TwitchTV, so please check in advance.

Kit Distribution Information

• Make sure you print and bring your team rosters from your FIRST Dashboard. Only Lead mentors 1 and 2 have access to this document, but any adult with the team may check in.
• All teams must first register to receive their documents prior to obtaining their kit.
• Minors cannot sign for the kit, only an adult with a photo ID.
• You can choose to have a “Surrogate” team pick up your kit, if you provided a surrogate letter by January 3rd, 2022 per the FIRST Surrogate Kit Pick-up information.
• It is highly recommended to bring a small folding cart with you, to help transport your kit.