PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Northern Maine FIRST LEGO League will meet at the University of Maine at Presque Isle on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In the event, which takes place in the gym at Wieden Hall, teams from northern Maine will bring robots and research projects for a day of competition, excitement and learning. Teams formed in early fall and are part of the International FIRST LEGO League program.
This year’s theme is Animal Allies. Students picked a topic related to human and animal interaction, identified a problem that happens when humans and animals interact, and designed a solution that makes the encounter better for the animals, the humans or both, and will share their work at the qualifier.
The FIRST LEGO League is not focused on competition, but is about students learning, being creative, solving problems and working as teams. The team members are learning skills to prepare them for a life of learning.
The northern Maine event is sponsored by Maine Robotics, a nonprofit dedicated to getting children interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as The Lerner Foundation; The Manton Foundation; the College of Engineering; and Gear Up Maine.
Teams include Never Give Up! of the Dr. Levesque Elementary School in Frenchville; Miraculous Monkeys and Whalers, SAD 27, Fort Kent; Southside Shires, Southside School, Houlton; The Pride and the Siberian ROBOTigers, SAD 20, Fort Fairfield; Houlton Middle/High School Robotics; RSU 50 of Dyer Brook; and the New Sweden Swedes from New Sweden Consolidated School.