FIRST LEGO League teams build a brighter future at LEGOLAND

by Rebecca Berggren | Oct 13, 2019 | Blog, FLL - Southern

In March, LEGOLAND California was host to 2 separate FIRST LEGO League events.

Spring Showdown – 3/16-3/17

With the regular FIRST LEGO League season wrapped up, LEGOLAND® California played host to the 11th annual Spring Showdown last month. Spring Showdown is an event specific to LEGOLAND California that began as an effort to keep FIRST LEGO League teams interested in robotics year round.
Using current FIRST LEGO League board and repurposing the mission models to a new theme, Spring Showdown is a way to get FIRST LEGO League teams thinking outside the box while challenging them.
This year’s Spring Showdown theme was Robots of Tomorrow.
The premise: complete the missions of the past to save the future of LEGOs.  Taking from the FIRST Robotics Competition playbook of alliance partners, the “On the Spot” challenge is a part of the competition where teams are assigned to work with two other teams, “alliance partners”, to complete a series of missions they have never seen before. Partners are given 90 minutes to work together before they compete.
Many thanks to Paul Kass, the creator and director for this event and has been a part of FIRST LEGO League for 16 years!

FIRST® LEGO® League Jr. International Open Expo – 3/29-3/31

Thirty FIRST LEGO League Jr teams from across the US and around the world took over LEGOLAND California for the 2nd annual FIRST LEGO League Jr International Expo. Teams came from United States, Japan, Mexico, Korea, Egypt, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria and Costa Rica.

This event introduces our youngest teams to educational travel, new cultural experiences, and a chance to bond with other children who are also beginning their journey of engagement with FIRST. The Open Expo experience enhances the camaraderie, learning, fun, and cultural sharing of FIRST, and provides teams an opportunity to showcase their work and learn from each other in a fun, unique, exciting and supportive venue.

A HUGE thank you to all the volunteers that help make these exciting and complex events fun and successful!

68 FIRST LEGO League teams from 11 countries land at LEGOLAND California for out-of-this world fun and learning!

by Rebecca Berggren | Oct 1, 2019 | Blog, FLL - Southern

68 teams, from USA, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Korea, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana and Zimbabwe landed at LEGOLAND California to compete in the FIRST LEGO League International Open from May 17-19, 2019.
Helping us celebrate this year’s space theme, Into Orbit,  NASA Astronaut Dan Bursch joined us for the fun and was impressed with the teams’ innovative projects, which were similar to things he explored on the International Space Station.

It was an action-packed weekend filled with excitement, discoveries, new friendships, FUN and memories of a lifetime …. plus teams were also able to enjoy the LEGOLAND and Water Park attractions in their “down” time.





Many thanks go to the 76 volunteers from FIRST Robotics teams, engineers, community members and educators plus the So Cal Robotics League, the local non-profit arm, who provided medals, trophies, meals, polo shirts, photography, VIP escorts, and a Board Dinner to thank our VIPs and leadership team. Without you all, none of this would’ve been possible!


We so are proud of all our teams, and grateful to the coaches, volunteers, and sponsors – Qualcomm and Viasat!





 
Photo Credit for all photos: Sandy Huffaker Photography.
Thank you Sandy Huffaker for helping tell the story of the weekend with your amazing photography!
This video created by team Narwhal of Ideas commemorates all of the teams who competed over the weekend.

 

RESULTS

Champion Award: 8 to Automate from Ohio
Champion Award, Runner Up: Tiger Tech Black from Pennsylvania
 
Robot Performance 1st Place: BWW from Japan
Robot Performance 2nd Place:  8 to Automate from Ohio
Robot Performance 3rd Place: BlockStars from Australia
Robot Performance 4th Place: Scientific Sorcerers from Ohio
Robot Performance 5th Place: The Renaissance from India
 
Robot Design – Mechanical Design 1st Place: Puzzle from  Korea
Robot Design – Mechanical Design 2nd Place:  STAR LAB from Korea
 
Robot Design – Programming 1st Place: Gear Gang from Missouri
Robot Design – Programming 2nd Place:  Super Smash Bro Bots from California
 
Robot Design – Strategy & Innovation 1st Place:  C.A.T.S from Washington
Robot Design – Strategy & Innovation 2nd Place: The Narwhal Of Ideas from South Carolina
 
Project – Research 1st Place: HashTag from India
Project – Research 2nd Place: Hawkes Bay All Stars from  New Zealand
 
Project – Presentation 1st Place: Guardians of the Galaxsee from Ontario, Canada
Project – Presentation 2nd Place: RoboWizz from Massachusetts 
 
Project – Innovative Solution 1st Place: Scientific Sorcerers from Ohio
Project – Innovative Solution 2nd Place:  Honubots from Hawaii
 
Core Values – Inspiration 1st Place: E3 Strike from Tennessee
Core Values – Inspiration 2nd Place: Salty Circuits from Illinois
 
Core Values – Teamwork 1st Place: RoboMoose from Texas
Core Values – Teamwork 2nd Place: Mega Bots from New Jersey
 
Core Values – Gracious Professionalism 1st Place: Project Bucephalus from Australia
Core Values – Gracious Professionalism 2nd Place: Rock-iT from India
 
Judge’s Award: Guardians of the LEGO Galaxy from Oregon
Judge’s Award: LEGO Leaders from Nevada
Judge’s Award: FIRST FUJISAN voyager from  Japan