To get call in/internet information to join the meeting, visit our FLL website at:
http://www.mainerobotics.org/first-lego-league.html and info is at the bottom of the middle column. Or you can get the directions on how to call in from the PDF directly here.

If you can not make the meeting today, don't worry we have another one Monday September 8th at 3:30 PM.

The 15th Annual FIRST LEGO League Season is now open.  Registration is open for this great program. The FLL is expecting 26,000 teams from around the world, children will be learning a huge amount about both STEM and Education for this year's theme.

WORLD CLASS
What is the future of learning? FIRST® LEGO® League teams will find the answers. In the 2014 FLL WORLD CLASS℠ Challenge, over 265,000 children from 80 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 CLASS! 

We are expecting around 90 teams and over 700 children here in Maine, representing 70 different schools making it our largest year yet.  Teams of children, ages 9 to 14 will be learning about educational; building LEGO robots; and programming them to perform challenge missions on a playing field.

For those ready to register, you can go to the national website and follow the links for team registration: https://my.usfirst.org/fll/tims/site.lasso or visit the national website for more information about the program at: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/fll

For those that want more information, Maine Robotics will be offering call-in discussions on:

• FLL Coaches and information meeting - Wednesday, September 3rd at 3:30 pm
• FLL Coaches and information meeting - Wednesday, September 3rd at 7:00 pm
• FLL Coaches and information meeting - Monday, September 8th at 3:30 pm

The call-in is for anyone who wants more information about the program and will be part information and part questions and answers.  You don't need to attend any or more than one, these are for your information, if needed.  To get call in/internet information to join the meeting, visit our FLL website at:
http://www.mainerobotics.org/first-lego-league.html and info is at the bottom of the middle column. Or get the call in direction PDF directly here.

The season runs from now until the qualifiers in late November, or until the State Championship on December 13th.  But registration ends at the end of September, so don't put it off!

Next Tuesday we will be having the Maine FLL Kickoff.  We will have a free, no registration required webcast of the event. This is an excellent opportunity for new teams and interested folks to learn about this year's challenge "Natures Fury".

The webcast will be Tuesday, 3:00 PM on September 10th and can be accessed by clicking on the button bellow

Ben, Harris and I finished our second day of the FIRST LEGO League Organizers Conference in New Hampshire today.  We've learned a lot about what other regions are doing and got great ideas about how to improve Maine's program.  And we got to see the 2013 Nature's Fury project and robot game!!!  But, alas, we can't share that with you for another 76 days!  Sorry...

But there are some great things to look forward to with this year's challenge and I think you'll enjoy it.

We really liked how they are focusing on "Nature's Fury" rather than on natural disasters.  It may seem like a small thing, but it is a way to keep our youth looking to learn more about what our world has in store, rather than what happens when nature and people collide.  But that is about all I can say so you'll have to wait for the rest.  Tom

Teams that registered nationally for the FIRST LEGO League may now register for the Maine FLL event, the Maine FIRST LEGO League Championship. If you registered your team nationally you should have received an email from us yesterday with instructions on how to register online. If you did not receive an email from us about state registration you can contact us at bgoff@mainerobotics.org. 

Alternativly you can register by printing off the Maine FLL Event registration form that can be found on our FLL page and mailing it to us at: 

Maine Robotics
167 Bennoch Road
Orono, ME 04473

State registration is $150 per a team and can be paid for either online or by mailing a check to the above address. If you have any questions just shoot us an email or call our office at (207)866-4340. We look forward to seeing you all in September.