Join A Team

Any Mequon resident child in grades 1 through 8 interested in robotics and LEGO building is welcome to join. No prior experience is necessary, just a curious mind and a desire to learn. You do not have to attend an MTSD school but you do have to be a Mequon resident to participate. Otherwise, visit FIRST website to locate an FLL team nearest you.

No. While programming skills are always a plus, it is not a requirement. In fact, it is something your child will be learning while here. Our students learn visual block programming in Scratch, as well programming in Python, as well as some basics of computer science and programming using age-appropriate and gamified approach. What your child does need to have is a desire and willingness to learn.

Junior FLL teams (also known as FIRST LEGO League Explore) include students entering grades 1-4 only.

For Explore, the season starts in late fall / early winter. Each year FIRST LEGO League Explore releases a new Challenge for teams that focuses on a scientific topic.  When the season starts, teams are guided through activities and discovery to learn all they can about the topic, then present their findings in the form of a team poster and a LEGO model that moves.

Each team consists of 2 to 6 members ages 6 to 10 and at least 2 adult coaches. Parent volunteers are also required to supervise, one parent per household at a time. 

The season typically runs between 8 & 10 weeks, and the teams meet at an MTSD facility 2 times a week for 1 hour on weeknights.

aaFLL Challenge include 2-10 members ages 10 to 14 or in the 5-8 grade, as well as a minimum of 2 adult coaches.

Each Challenge season has 3 parts:

1. the Robot Game,
2. the Innovation Project, and
3. the FIRST Core Values.

The team has to assemble all the stations from the season’s game board and design, build and program a robot to score the highest number of points in the alloted game time by engaging each of the stations. The team also has to learn about the season’s scientific topic, come up with a problem that exists, and solve it using STEM. They present this project along with evidence of practice of FIRST core values to a panel of judges at the sectional competition.

The season starts in August and runs through eariy to mid-November or longer depending on whether the team moves on to the next round of competition.

Teams meet at an MTSD facility 2 times per week for 2 hours.

NOTE: Because this is a competitive league, and because gracious professionalism is the one overarching concept in FIRST competitions, there is a level of emotional maturity that is required of the participating students, such as:

• ability and willingness to follow direction
• ability to work in a team environment
• being respectful of personal space and personal belongings
• ability to focus on a task for an age-appropriate extended period of time
• ability to perform some research or complete a simple assignement without or with minimal supervision using provided instructions

Junior FLL season runs for 8-10 weeks beinning November / December.

FLL Challenge team season runs from August through mid-November or longer if teams move on to the the next competition level.

Teams typically meet twice a week, but the schedule can vary depending on the upcoming competitions and team availability. Specific schedules are provided at the start of the season.

Yes, there is a one-time fee for each season, which covers the necessary supplies and team tshirts. The fee for the 2024-2025 season will be determined by end of June. 

In order to participate, your 5-8th grader will need to have the following:

• a laptop – Windows or Mac preferred. NOT a tablet.
• Internet connection at home
• a student’s own Google account (parent account-controlled) for Google Classroom access and other training platforms, resources, and communication. Coaches can help you set that up for your student as well as answer any questions.
• a dedicated notebook
• pen

Lego robotics competitions foster problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation. Participating helps children develop critical thinking and engineering skills in a fun, supportive environment. Children will learn programming in Scratch and Python, mechanical engineering, research, and project management. They also gain soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking. 

Mequon FLL introduces kids to the fundamentals of STEM fields, nurturing an early interest and providing a strong foundation for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and business.