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"Using robotics to build kids not using kids to build robotics."  

 - Chris Rake Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, FIRST®

 Mega Builders Lego Team. 
The team received the Robot Performance Award for scoring the highest points in the robot game at the Florida Adventist Robotics Qualifying Tournament, March 26, 2023.  They have been invited to the Adventist Robotics National Tournament, May 7, 2023, at Forest Lake Academy.
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WHAT IS FIRST LEGO LEAGUE?

When students are engaged in hands-on STEM experiences, they build confidence, grow their knowledge, and develop habits of learning. When adults coach these students, they encourage them to try, fail, and try again, while connecting STEM concepts to real-world examples.

FIRST LEGO League is the most accessible, guided, global robotics competition, helping students and teachers to build a better future together. The program is built around theme-based Challenges to engage children ages 9 to 16* in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering.

The foundation of the program is the FIRST Core Values, which emphasize teamwork, discovery, and innovation. Students emerge more confident, excited, and equipped with the skills they need in a changing workforce.

IMPACT

The positive impact FIRST LEGO League has on participants is gratifying and well documented. Over 88% are more interested in doing well in school, and 87% have more interest in attending college.

FIRST LEGO League teams get to:

  • Research challenges facing today’s scientists

  • Design, build, test and program robots using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® technology

  • Apply real-world math and science concepts

  • Learn critical thinking, team-building, and presentation skills 

  • Participate in tournaments and celebrations

  • Understand and practice Gracious Professionalism®

WHAT IS FIRST TECH CHALLENGE

It’s way more than building robots. FIRST Tech Challenge teams (up to 15 team members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format.

Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.

The robot kit is reusable from year to year and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming. Teams design and build robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards. Participants are eligible to apply for $80M+ in college scholarships.

FIRST CORE VALUES

The FIRST Core Values are the cornerstones of the program. They are among the fundamental elements that distinguish FIRST LEGO League from other programs of its kind. By embracing the Core Values, participants learn that friendly competition and mutual gain are not separate goals, and that helping one another is the foundation of teamwork.

We express the FIRST philosophies of Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition through our Core Values:

  • Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.

  • Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.

  • Impact:  We apply what we learn to improve our world.

  • Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.

  • Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.

  • Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!

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