Riverbend FIRST Lego League Robotics Club and Team
What FIRST LEGO League?

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an exciting and fun international robotics program that ignites an enthusiasm for discovery, science, and technology in kids ages 9 to 14.

Each year FLL teams embark on an adventurous Challenge based on current, real-world issues. Guided by a team coach and assisted by mentors, the kids:

  • Research and solve a real-world problem based on the Challenge theme
  • Present their research and solutions
  • Build an autonomous robot using engineering concepts

Using the yearly Challenges, FLL:

  • Entices kids to think like scientists and engineers
  • Provides a fun, creative, hands-on learning experience
  • Teaches kids to experiment and overcome obstacles
  • Builds self-esteem and confidence
  • Inspires kids to participate in science and technology

No matter what the child’s subject interest, FLL offers an opportunity for engagement. Whether it is by creativity, technology, or research, FLL dares kids to test, explore, expand, or completely change thoughts and approaches for different sciences each year.

FLL is the result of a partnership between FIRST and the LEGO Group. In 1998, FIRST Founder Dean Kamen and The LEGO Group’s Kjeld Kirk Kristiensen joined forces to create FIRST LEGO League (FLL), a powerful program that engages younger children in playful and meaningful learning while helping them to discover the fun in science and technology. So far, FLL has reached more than 90,000 kids in 45 countries around the globe.
What is the difference between Club and Team?
Robotics Club is a great way to get started. The season is shorter (one month versus two for the team), more focused on robotics (the team also is responsible for a substantial research project and presentation), and requires less commitment than the team.
Who is Eligible to Join the Robotics Club & Team?
Club Open to all third, fourth, and fifth grade Riverbend students who turn in signed permission slips. Need a permission slip? Click here for one you can print out, fill out, sign, and return to Mrs. Wittig. If you include your e-mail address, I will put you on an e-mail list and send out updates as new information becomes available.
Teamm

Ten students who are:

 1) willing and able to work on this year’s FIRST Lego League Challenge (including a research project on Climate Connections),

2) dedicated to working as a team,

3) regularly attend and actively participate in Riverbend Robotics CLUB (& TEAM meetings), and

4) will be at least nine years old by January 1.
When Does the Robotics Club & Team Meet?

Club

CLUB meetings are scheduled for 3:45-5:00 PM on the following Tuesdays and Thursdays:

• Tuesday, September 23

• Thursday, September 25

• Tuesday, September 30

• Thursday, October 1

• Thursday, October 9

• Thursday, October 16

• Tuesday, October 21

Optional:

• FIRST Lego League Kick Off Party, 11:00 – 1:00 at JDHS, Saturday, September 20
Team

TEAM meetings (3:45-5:00 except as noted):

• FIRST Lego League Kick Off Party, 11:00 – 1:00 at JDHS, Saturday, September 20

• ALL OF THE CLUB MEETINGS!

• Thursday, October 23

• Tuesday, October 28

• Thursday, October 30

• Thursday, November 6

• Thursday, November 13

• Tuesday, November 18

• Thursday, November 20

• Friday, November 21 (Tentative presentation of  project during school day)

• Saturday, November 22nd  (TBD)

• Sunday, November 23rd - Juneau Robotics Jamboree (all day!)*
What If I Have Some Scheduling Conflicts?
Club We know that students are busy with all sorts of activities that might conflict with Riverbend Robotics Club participation. If you can make many of the club meetings, we can work around that. I know that many of you are finishing up the football/cheerleading season within a week of our first practice, so we can make that work. Some of you have gymnastics, music lessons, or other regularly scheduled commitments one of the two days we meet each week. You can try coming just one day a week, if you let me and your work group know ahead of time when you will be gone.
Team Because teamwork is critical to the success of a FIRST Robotics Team (in fact one fourth of our competition score is judged on teamwork!), it is very important that we have regular attendance of all team members. We can work around a few pre-excused absences, and of course, illness, but otherwise, full attendance is expected. Look at the meeting schedule and see if it will work with the rest of your family's commitments before you make the final choice to join the team in October.
Where do the Robotics Club and Team meet?
Both the Club and Team will have all their meetings in the Riverbend Library. The Kick-off Party will be at JDHS, and the Juneau Robotics Jamboree will be at Centennial Hall.
What competitions are available to the Riverbend Robotics Team?
On Sunday, November 23rd, at Centennial Hall, over a dozen teams from all over Southeast Alaska will compete in the Juneau Robotics Jamboree, including one from most of the elementary schools and two or three from each of the middle schools in Juneau. Riverbend will have one team of ten students competing at that event. See the current team roster at the bottom of this page.
Will There Be an Activity Bus?
At this time, there is no plan for an activity bus. Parents need to arrange transportation or RALLY following club & team meetings. 
Does It Cost Anything Join the Robotics Club & Team?
There is no cost to join the Riverbend Robotics Club or Team. We may do a little fundraising for the team tee shirts and/or costumes for the competition, but students are not asked to pay for anything out of pocket.

A special thank you to the generous financial contributions of groups who have made this opportunity a reality:

• Juneau School District Extended Learning Program, who purchased the first robotics kit and software.
• 2004-2005 Riverbend Robotics club members, who sold nachos at lunch to purchase several more robotic kits.
• Juneau School District, who paid for this year's field set-up kit and some of the registration costs.
• Riverbend Elementary School, who I hope will pay the remaining registration costs.
• Springboard, a program of the Juneau Economic Development Council, who provided a grant to purchase a new NXT robotics kit for our team (who have been competing with the older RCX robots in the past).

And a special thank you to people who have donated their time & goodies:
• Volunteer adult coaches, Sheryl Wittig, Tim Frawley, and Mark Insteness
• Parents who have provided transportation and snacks
What Will We Be Doing?
Club Robotics club is an opportunity to explore the world of robotics. With several dozen excited students, 6,000 Lego pieces, seven robot brains, and about that many computers, students will be building and programing Lego robots
Team An opportunity to develop problem-solving, programming, design, research, presentation, and team work skills.  This team will represent Riverbend School at the Juneau Robotic Jamboree on November 23rd.
Don't You Need Some Help?
Help is always welcome. The goal is to have the students figure things out and solve their own problems. Parents, engineers, and other interested adults are welcome to help facilitate this process, raise funds, provide snacks, and anything else that would make this a more valuable experience for our students.
What If I Have Questions?
Please feel free to e-mail me anytime. I'm pretty quick at replying to e-mails. sheryl_wittig@jsd.k12.ak.us. I'm located in Room 122 in the center of the building. My phone number is 463-1819, ext. 230.

If you need to get ahold of your child during robotics club or team meetings, phone Riverbend school (463-1819), and enter the library extension (ext. 261).
Where Can We Learn More About LEGO League Robotics?
FIRST Lego Logo League
Alaska Robotics Education Association
Robolab at Tufts University

2008 Challenge: Climate Connections

Video clips of this year's mission

Who Is On the Robotics Team?

2008

 To be selected by October 21st.

2007

Adrienne S.
Amanda S.
Cameron M.
Erica M.
Jake M.
James R.
Jed D.R.
Roel Y.
Ryan F.
Thane R.O.B.

Design Award - Second Place
Juneau Robot Jamboree
November 18, 2007

Sheryl Hall Wittig ~ Page last updated on Wednesday, September 17, 2008.