FIRST® LEGO® League Offers Fun And Opportunities For Young Engineers

FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) is a great opportunity for anyone in 4th-6th grade to make new friends, have fun, and become young engineers. FLL participants learn about programming robots to complete tasks and how to complete research to use technology to create solutions for real life problems. In 2013, FLL teams created solutions to natural disasters, like hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, and earthquakes. Once a solution is created, the team members work together to create a presentation for their solution that gets presented during the regional qualifier. Last year, the Mahaska County FLL team took part in the regional qualifier event at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa.

“What is the future of learning?” In 2014, FLL teams will find the answers. FLL WORLD CLASS℠ is the 2014 Challenge, over 230,000 children from over 70 countries will redesign how we gather knowledge and skills in the 21st century. Teams will teach adults about the ways that kids need and want to learn. Get ready for a whole new class – FLL WORLD CLASSSM!

FLL challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers. During FLL WORLD CLASSSM, teams will build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS® to solve a set of missions in the Robot Game. They will also choose and solve a real-world question in the Project. Throughout their experience, teams will operate under FLL’s signature set of Core Values.

Cost to join FLL is only $30 for the year (4-H membership fee). FLL participants can go on to take part in 4-H activities throughout the year, including county fair and possibly state fair exhibiting! Teams are forming now, reserve your spot TODAY by calling Amy Brainard, Mahaska County Youth & 4-H Coordinator at 641-673-5841 or emailing vermeera@iastate.edu. Only 10 spots are open on each team, so act fast! Team practice times, dates, and locations will be determined at the upcoming FLL Family Meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, August 26 at 6:30 PM in the ISU Extension and Outreach office at 212 North I Street in Oskaloosa. Anyone who is interested in FLL should plan to attend this meeting. RSVP is requested by calling 673-5841 or emailing vermeera@iastate.edu.

Thank you to Musco and Cablevey for supporting this year’s teams! The Musco Rovers team is coached by Mike Mitchell and The Cablevey OskyBots teams is coached by Kevin Schippers and Bellina Buban. We are also in need of adult volunteers to assist with the Project. If you are interested, please contact Amy at the number and email above.