FIRST Lego
League Explore
Program Overview
Grades: 1 - 3
The FIRST Lego League Explore Program runs from January - April each year.
Registration information will be released in October of 2024.
In Explore, teams of students focus on the fundamentals of engineering as they explore real-world problems, and learn to design, code, and create unique solutions made with LEGO bricks and powered by a LEGO Education robot. Teams will learn the basics of motors, coding, and engineering and will engage in critical thinking. Each year there is a different theme that the students learn about. The season concludes with an end-of-the-year celebration where students showcase their Lego models and poster board. Here are some findings from the program:
2024-2025 Program
Registration for our 2024-2025 Program will be released in October of 2024. You can join our email list below to get notified when registration opens for next year and to hear about other youth STEM programs we offer.
Question and Answer
For any questions not answered below, please contact ymacary@tcrobotics.org.
Is there any costs associated with the program?
No, our FLL Explore program is free to participate in. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit our donate page to support the efforts of the Tolland County Robotics Foundation.
Are parents required to stay for the duration of the program?
Parents are not required to but are more than welcome to stay for meetings. Parent involvement helps students get more out of the program.
How long is the program?
The program lasts 10-12 weeks, with 1.5 hour meetings each week.
How do you communicate with parents?
We utilize Remind, a communication platform that allows us to send out messages to all parents of students in our programs, and parents to individually contact team mentors. Information on how to join can be found when you sign up.
Do students need to be from a specific town to participate in the program?
No, there is no residency requirement for any of our programs.
Do I have to attend every single session?
In this program, students are working with and commit to a team. As such we expect students to attend every session. We understand that illness and other issues may arise, but we hope that every family that signs up commits to the program as much as possible.
Will students work in a team?
Yes, students will be working in teams of 5-6 students for the duration of the season.
Who will be running the program?
The program is run through a collaboration between public libraries and the Tolland County Robotics Foundation. Foundation mentors and the children's librarian collaborate to run the program. All foundation mentors go through a background checks before beginning the program.
Is there a competition at the end of the season?
At the end of the season, students will attend a festival with other teams in the area. This will give them the opportunity to be recognized for their efforts throughout the season and to see other teams across the state, connecting them to the larger FIRST community.
What is the next program after FIRST Lego League Explore?
After students become too old for FIRST Lego League Explore, they can participate in FIRST Lego League Challenge. Please visit that page of our site for more information.