From May 31 to June 2, 2024, the Long Beach Convention Center experienced a whirlwind of innovation, teamwork, and pure awesomeness at the Western Edge Open FIRST LEGO League competition.

It was truly a masterpiece! 750 brilliant young minds from 20 different countries, 85 teams bringing their A-game, and 130 superstar volunteers making it all happen. The energy? Absolutely off the charts.

For three action-packed days, students showcased their skills, proving that the future of STEM is brighter than ever. This wasn’t just any competition – it was a celebration of creativity, problem-solving, and FUN with a capital F!

Highlights That’ll Make You Wish You Were There

• Dance Party Extravaganza: Our first day ended with a high-energy dance party that had everyone grooving. Even the robots were jealous!
• Minifig Trading Friday: Teams swapped their prized LEGO Minifigs and new friendships were forged over shared love for tiny, colorful, plastic personas.
• I Spy Saturday: The future is so bright, participants had to build their own LEGO shades on day two.

From epic robots to brilliant teamwork, every moment at the Western Edge Open proved that when young innovators come together, magic happens. The air was electric with ideas, the arena was buzzing with excitement, and the future of STEM? Well, it’s in pretty amazing hands!

On-the-Spot Challenge: Alliances in Action!

Think you’ve seen teamwork? Think again! After the regular competition came to an end, our ingenious competitors faced the ultimate test in the “On-the-Spot” challenge. Teams were paired up with two surprise alliance partners and had to reprogram their robots on the fly for a brand-new challenge. Talk about thinking on your feet!

 FIRST LEGO League Explore Game

California Southern FIRST LEGO League has piloted an FLL Explore game for the past 3 years and decided to bring it to WE. Using the mat they received in their field set up box, teams were given a Western Edge specific game where they would try to complete 15 simple push/pull missions in 2 minutes.

 A Round of Applause for Our Unsung Heroes

None of this would have been possible without the incredible dedication of our volunteers, mentors, and parents. These unsung heroes worked tirelessly behind (and in front of!) the scenes, from early mornings to late nights, ensuring every aspect of  Western Edge Open ran smoothly. To the volunteers who kept the competition humming, the mentors who nurtured young minds, and the parents who provided unwavering support – we salute you! Your passion and commitment are the foundation upon which these young innovators build their dreams.

Who knows? The next world-changing idea might have just been born between a couple of LEGO bricks in Long Beach!

Congratulations Are In Order

Let’s take a moment to recognize all the incredible teams who made it to the Western Edge Open. Earning a spot here is a huge accomplishment in itself. Bravo to each and every participant!

You can find a full list of results here.

California Southern FIRST LEGO League  had the opportunity to pilot an Explore game this season. Teams used their robot to complete 6 different missions in their 2.5 autonomous time. It was next with great success and teams are hoping they get to play again next season.

In December, California Southern Region held the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Championship and the FIRST LEGO Explore Festival at the University of Riverside.

• Complete list of results and awards.

California Southern FLL had the opportunity to pilot an Explore game this season. Teams used their robot to complete 6 different missions in their 2.5 autonomous time. It was meet with great success and teams are hoping they get to play again next season.