Introduction to FIRST LEGO League and FIRST

Vision

“To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.”– Dean Kamen, FIRST Founder

Mission

The mission of FIRST and FIRST LEGO League is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership.

Philosophy

Everyone is a winner. FIRST LEGO League is designed to be a celebration of achievement. Everyone is transformed by the experience. Judges learn from participants, mentors learn from teams and students leave wanting more. It’s not about building robots; it’s about robots building people.

Core Values

The FLL Core Values are the cornerstones of our program. They are among the fundamental elements that distinguish FLL from other programs and part of what every FLL team should learn and demonstrate during their experience. By embracing the Core Values, participants learn that friendly competition and mutual gain are not separate goals. They learn the value of teamwork and to respect everyone’s ideas and contributions to the team. FLL succeeds most fully when team members bring the FLL Core Values they learn back to their communities.

  • We are a team.
  • We do the work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors.
  • We know our coaches and mentors don’t have all the answers; we learn together.
  • We honor the spirit of friendly competition.
  • What we discover is more important than what we win.
  • We share our experiences with others.
  • We display Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition in everything we do.
  • We have FUN!

 

FIRST LEGO League

FLL is an exciting and fun global robotics program that ignites an enthusiasm for discovery, science, and technology in kids ages 9 to 14 (16 outside of the U.S. and Canada). Each year FLL teams embark on an adventurous Challenge based on current, real-world issues. Guided by a team coach and assisted by mentors, the teams:

  • Research and solve a real-world problem based on the Challenge theme
  • Build an autonomous robot using engineering concepts
  • Experience how much can be accomplished when working together as a team

Using a Challenge theme that changes each year, FLL:

  • Entices children to think like scientists and engineers
  • Provides a fun, creative, hands-on learning experience
  • Teaches children to experiment and overcome obstacles
  • Builds self-esteem and confidence
  • Inspires participation in science and technology

No matter what the child’s subject interest, FLL offers an opportunity for engagement. Whether it is by creativity, technology, or research, FLL dares kids to test, explore, expand, or completely change thoughts and approaches for different sciences each year.

FLL is the result of an alliance between FIRST and The LEGO Group. In 1998, FIRSTFounder Dean Kamen and The LEGO Group’s Kjeld Kirk Kristiensen joined forces to create FIRST LEGO League, a powerful program that engages younger children in playful and meaningful learning while helping them to discover the fun in science and technology. In just over a decade, FLL’s reach and impact now includes more than 60 countries around the globe.

For additional information about FLL and our Challenge this year, please visit: www.firstlegoleague.org

The FIRST Family of Programs

FLL is just one of four FIRST programs inspiring children ages 6-18. All Programs encourage judges to serve as “Ambassadors of FIRST” during events. Accordingly, we appreciate your taking a moment to better understand the mission of the FLL program andFIRST. Working together we hope to transform the culture: to restore the sense of excitement, awe, respect and honor that was once attached to science and technology, and especially to imbue the younger generation with an appreciation of the rewards, including career opportunities, that pursuing an enriched understanding of science, technology and learning can bring.

For additional information about FIRST and our family of four programs, please visit: www.usfirst.org