Future City has five different pieces that all need to be completed – designing the SimCity, researching and writing the city description, building the model, developing a project plan, and presenting the city to the judges. Most teams work together to come up with the big ideas and direction for their city and then they divide up the work depending on a teammate’s interests and skills. Talk to your teammates, your educator coach, and mentor about what parts of Future City you are most interested in.

Your team educator or mentor must register your team online. Once your team is registered you will be sent Sim City codes, and will be able to start working on all of the Competition Deliverables.

Of course you can work with your friends. No one works alone, as you need a minimum of three people on each team.

Not so fast. Future City is always a team effort! You’ll need a minimum of three people, and it always helps to have a few more. If you’re finding this on your own, share this website with your teacher or afterschool leader and ask him or her to help you find some teammates and register! Email your Regional Coordinator for more information.

The program starts at the beginning of school and goes to January, when the regional competition takes place. Some teams have classroom time to work on the project, while other teams complete all work after school and on the weekends.

It is a lot of work, but that’s why it’s a team project! You can divide and conquer. Some students can work on researching and writing the city description, while others plan the physical model. And now we have some great project management tools you and teammates can use to help you stay on track.

It is a lot of work, but that’s why it’s a team project! You can divide and conquer. Some students can work on researching and writing the city description, while others plan the physical model. And now we have some great project management tools you and teammates can use to help you stay on track.

At the regional competition you will display your city model in a science fair type setting. Other middle school students and educators from around the region will get a chance to see your work, and you can check out theirs. You will also be sent to a private judging room to deliver your 5 - 7 minute presentation in front of a panel of 3 - 5 judges from local STEM industries. Finally, specialty award judges will ask you questions about specific aspects of your city. At the end of the day, finalists will present their work, awards will be announced, and prizes will be distributed. The entire competition often feels more like a celebration than an intense competition. It’s a lot of fun!

Each region presents its own awards and prizes at the regional competition. You’ll have to ask your educator what is typically done in your region. Teams that win their regional competition are given a free trip to Washington, DC in order to compete at the national competition. National winners can win a trip to Space Camp, and cash for their school’s STEM programs. Check out all of the Awards and Prizes distributed at nationals. Email your Regional Coordinator for more information.

You should consider your mentor a professional advisor. You can ask him or her any technical questions that you have, especially ones that your educator may not be able to answer. If your mentor doesn’t know the answer to a question, he or she will help you look it up. He or she may give you a lesson on technical drawing, using handtools, or scale. In addition, your mentor knows what it takes to be an engineer in real life -- he or she can answer your questions about engineering careers.

We hope that you will tell your parents all about what you’re doing. And you can certainly ask them what they think about your ideas. If they have an area of expertise, encourage them to come into school to share the information with your entire class or team. Email your Regional Coordinator for more information.