Michigan RECF Engage Middle School State Championship

Welcome to the 2027 Michigan Engage Middle School State Championship!
We are excited to welcome some of the best Engage teams from across Michigan for this championship event!

Qualified teams should register as soon as possible and before the registration deadline. Please also make sure your registration fees have been paid and processed prior to the event.

Be sure to check out the Volunteer tab to learn how you can help make this event a success - and get some free stuff while you’re at it!


** Two-Day Event! **
The Michigan Engage Middle School State Championship is a two-day event, and teams are expected to attend both days.

Qualification Matches will be played on both days of the competition, so teams should plan accordingly when making travel and lodging arrangements. Teams should not plan to arrive late or leave early, as doing so may result in missed matches and could impact their overall tournament results.


Competition Preparation
The Michigan State Championship is sure to be a fast-paced and exciting event. Teams should arrive prepared and ready to compete. Here are a few things every team should do before arriving:

1. Review the Game Manual, Code of Conduct, and Robot Inspection Checklist. Make sure your robot meets all current rules before arriving at the event.
2. Check the Official Q&A for official rule clarifications, updates, and changes.
3. Carefully read this entire event posting, including all additional tabs. Important event-specific information will be posted here.
4. Make sure your Engineering Notebook is digital. The notebook link must be published in your team's profile and must be publicly accessible without requiring a login or permission request.
5. Prepare for your Judge Interview. Teams should be prepared to discuss their robot, design process, programming, and Engineering Notebook with the judges.
6. Update your robot. Make sure the latest available firmware is installed and that your robot and controller are functioning properly before arriving.
7. Plan to attend both days. Qualification Matches will take place on both days of the State Championship, so all team members should plan their travel and lodging accordingly.


How to Qualify
Please refer to the RECF Library Event Qualification Guide for the criteria teams and events must meet to qualify for the Michigan Engage Middle School State Championship: https://kb.roboticseducation.org/hc/en-us/articles/5474199602071-Qualifying-Criteria-for-RECF-Robotics-Competition-Programs

Engage Michigan State Championship spot allocations - COMING SOON!


Animals
Shanty Creek Resort's Pet Policy applies to all guests attending the event: https://www.shantycreek.com/pet-friendly-rooms/

While the resort does offer pet-friendly accommodations, we ask that pets not be brought into the competition venue or competition areas. Service animals are, of course, permitted in accordance with applicable law.

Please check back closer to the event for the detailed agenda.

Digital Engineering Notebook Reminder

Your team will be submitting a Digital Engineering Notebook for judging, please remember:

- Submission Deadline: February 7, 2027, at 11:59 PM (midnight)
- Sharing Link: Your team's Primary Contact will submit this link to your notebook within the teams profile on RECFevents.org
- Sharing Permissions: Your notebook must be shared with public read-only access so judges can access it without requesting permission.
- For detailed instructions check out https://kb.roboticseducation.org/hc/en-us/articles/4972627664919-Robotics-Guide-to-Judging-Remote-Judging

Please verify your sharing settings before the deadline to avoid any issues with judging.

Hotel Information
This is a TWO DAY EVENT! Both days are required as competition matches will be taking place on both days.

Keep in mind, booking a hotel room at Shanty Creek is not required but is highly recommended as it offers several perks that booking a room elsewhere does not have.

Convenience - Get from your hotel room, to dining options, to the competition space all without leaving the building.
Watch from your room - We'll be streaming the event live to the resort's TV system allowing you to watch the event from the comfort of your hotel room.
Resort amenities like indoor pool and fitness center or other add-on activities like skiing or alpine tubing.
To book a room with the discounted room rate, please use the following link.

Reservation link - https://www.shantycreek.com/reservations/michigan-robotics-state-championship/

General Information

Complimentary wireless internet for all guests in the hotel and meeting rooms.
Complimentary on-site, self-parking for all guests

Shanty Creek Resort is completely CASHLESS. They accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover & American Express. There are cash to card machines available on site for your convenience.

Michigan winters are unpredictable, and snow happens. Teams should plan ahead, monitor the weather and allow extra travel time if needed. The schedule is designed to give everyone ample travel time without having to head out at 3 am.

In the unlikely event of an emergency, the team’s primary contact will be notified by email as soon as possible.

Please make sure your team’s primary contact information is current and monitor your email for updates before traveling.

If the Event Partner cancels the event: Full refunds will be issued.

​If a Coach/Mentor completes registration for the event then chooses to withdraw or not attend: Refunds will not be issued