The FIRST LEGO^® League (FLL) is a team based competition for kids ages 9 -14 utilizing the LEGO^® MINDSTORMS^® robotics kits. Each year, the FIRST organization (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) releases a science themed challenge for the teams to work on. The challenges consist of a table-top LEGO^® course for the MINDSTORMS^® robots to work through as well as a research project for the team to investigate, develop ideas, and then present in a creative presentation. The theme for the 2011 season is:

From the FLL web site: "Can FIRST® LEGO® League teams improve the quality of food by finding ways to prevent food contamination?   In the 2011 Food Factor Challenge, over 200,000 9-16* year olds from over 55 countries will explore the topic of food safety and examine the possible points of contamination our food encounters – from exposure to insects and creatures, to unsterile processing and transportation, to unsanitary preparation and storage – then find ways to prevent or combat these contaminates.  In the Food Factor Challenge, teams will build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT to solve a set of Food Safety missions as well as research, develop, and share their innovative food safety solutions.  Throughout their experience, teams will operate under FLL’s signature set of Core Values.   *9-14 in the US,Canada, and Mexico" Team registration now open! Challenge released September 2nd!

The season culminates in a tournament, where the robots are run through the LEGO course and the teams creative presentations are graded. Awards are given and the top team can move on to further events including the FIRST World Festival! The regional FLL competition is held at the University of Rochester in late November.

The general timeline for the season is:

May -  Mid September - Team registration (Registration ends when all the kits are sold)

This is when teams should be formed up, registered, and preliminary work on learning the MINDSTORMS^® system and general research on the challenge subject should be done by the teams. 

September 3rd - The  Smart Moves challenge is released.

At this point the team should be meeting regularly working on the MINDSTORMS^® challenge, researching the challenge problem, and preparing their creative presentation.

Late November - January - Tournaments are held

April - FIRST World Festival in Atlanta, Georgia

More information on the league and how to form a team can be found in the links below, on the official FLL web pages, or by contacting Dan Woodie.

FLL Promotional Video

Who is FIRST? 

Junior FIRST LEGO League (for kids ages 6-9)