Find a Team...
You want your child age 6 to 9 to participate in Jr. FLL. How do you find a team?
We get asked this a lot!
First, let's start off by saying - Stamford Robotics doesn't actually form teams so we can't help you directly with this.
We do two very important things...
1. We run a first rate Jr. FLL Expo every year so that teams in our area have a place to go at the end of the season to celebrate their work.
2. We provide our experience to any organization or individual who starts or runs a team (organizers and coaches). When possible we also try to help teams find youth mentors (high school or middle school) to come help out.
So how do you find a team for your child.
First check at your school (with your PTO), with your after school program, or other community organizations like your boys or girl scout troop to see if they are running a Jr. FLL team.
If they are, great!
If not, talk to them about starting one! Try approaching your parent teacher organization, or your after school program director, scout troop leader, etc.
Can't find an organization that your child is affiliated with that wants to start a team?
You can start one yourself (anyone can). It only takes a few interested kids, and at least one adult to coach them. Coaching requires no special knowledge or skills, just an interest in sharing a fun experience. A typical team requires about 8 to 10 meetings (an hour or hour and a half each) to complete the challenge. A budget for a first time team is about $200 which includes $25 team registration with FIRST, purchasing the recommended LEGO kit, registration fee for an Expo (ours!), and arts materials for a poster board. A "team of friends and families" is quite common in Jr. FLL.
Remember to do your research:
Go to the Jr FLL home page to find out all about Jr. FLL and forming/coaching a team, and of course check out the links on the Stamford Robotics site for details about Jr. FLL in the local community, and don't forget to sign up for our mailing list!