Stamford Robotics (JFLL and FLL in Stamford, CT)

We'll be there - will you?

The Stamford Robotics team will be at Stone Soup for the 21st Century.  We'll be in the fairway all day demonstrating JFLL and FLL for our community families.  Spreading the good word about the positive impact of these programs, and making sure families know the different ways they can make sure these programs are available for their kids.

Want to join us?  Contact us before Saturday and let us know that you'd like to come join us.

Stone Soup will be this coming Saturday at AITE from 9 am to 3:30 PM.  For all the details on this event go to www.stamfordasks.org.

We'll see you there!  Don't forget to bring a canned food item for the food bank!

<Check out the photos from this year's event>

Our second annual Junior FIRST LEGO League Expo in Stamford was successfully completed on February 8th, 2009! Thank you to all the teams that took the challenge, all the youth (high school, middle school and even elementary) who stepped up to be mentors, as well as all the coaches, volunteers etc. who made this event happen. Also a big thank you to our partners, Stamford Public Education Foundation and the Parent Teacher Council of Stamford. And finally, thanks to our corporate sponsors who contributed funding and in one case employee mentors to teams!

Our event was held at the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering which provided an outstanding (and appropriate!) venue for this youth science/engineering event.

29 Teams took the JFLL "Climate Connections" challenge this year (22 attended the city-wide Expo, another 6 will be having a mini Expo at their school). These teams represented 6 elementary schools as well as 2 community organizations and one community team.  We even had 1 team from New Jersey!  Our community organizations especially stepped up this year.  Last year only one community organization participated - Boys and Girls Club of Stamford.  Well, they were back and better than ever, but with 4 teams from YMCA our community organization representation was really strong.  We hope for even more next year!

As organizers of the event, Stamford Robotics volunteers were eager to see what these teams of JFLL students would come up with and we weren't disappointed! Their cool LEGO designs and impressive knowledge of climate were inspiring to the reviewers and all in attendance. From space satellite systems to weather flags these team's varied ideas about cool climate tools was inspirational

Some items of special note for this year's event:

• This was our first year at AITE. AITE's mission of Information Technology and Engineering provided an excellent context for our event. As well, this brand new technologically sophisticated school provided us with an outstanding venue. Thanks to the AITE students and staff who helped us make this program go.
• Partnerships! Our partnership with SPEF and PTC was great. We really appreciate their continued support of this program. We also want to extend a special thank you to the Pitney Bowes Foundation who not only helped with much needed funding, but perhaps even more importantly, provided outstanding support from Pitney Bowes employees who volunteered their time to mentor teams, organize the event, and volunteer on the day of the event. Their support was beneficial to say the least.
• Special guests! We were honored to have such distinguished guests to come and help recognized the achievements of these 22 teams. Thank you to Vicki O'Meara of Pitney Bowes, Cathy Malloy, Barbara Aronica of SPEF, Steve Rigo of Stamford Robotics, and of course Attorney General Blumenthal. Your attendance was critical to help establish the high value that science education and extracurricular activities have in our community.

And on to the future:

• Thank you to all coaches who provided their feedback on both the Expo itself as well as the entire season. Your feedback was both detailed and helpful.
• 2009/2010 will be here before you know it. We'll be reaching out soon to all involved in JFLL this year to discuss the future of FIRST programs in Stamford. Did you know that we already have 2 rookie high school robotics teams in Stamford? And next up for Stamford Robotics will be to help establish FLL teams (age 9 to 14) in Stamford for the 2009 season. The future opportunities for kids in Stamford are well within reach. We'll need your help and support to make it happen. Let's make sure that 2009/2010 becomes the year when we have FIRST programs available to kids in Stamford of all ages!
• We are looking for both student and adult leaders to help keep this program going strong!  Contact us if you are interested, or just to get on our mailing list!

<Check out the photos from this year's event>

JFLL introduces children to the concepts of teamwork and basic design skills, creating an initial interest and hands-on approach to science and technology through the familiarity and fun of LEGO building. The goal: provide an experience that will begin to transform youngsters and open their eyes to the possibilities of improving the world around them through acknowledgment, thought, planning and technology.

JFLL 2008/2009 The "Climate Connections" Challenge! Building a Global Game Plan

Embark on an exploration of the earth's climate in the FIRST LEGO League's 2008 Climate Connections Challenge! Discover the links between science, people, resources and communities. Unearth how we learn about past climates and delve into questions surrounding our current and future climatic conditions. Join Jr.FLL teams in creating a global game plan as they make these Climate Connections!

Through guided exploration and hands-on research JFLL teams will explore these questions. Their season will finish with their attendance at a JFLL Exposition where there can meet other teams and show off their work to the community.