Common Questions

What is FIRST?

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

  • An international not-for-profit organization founded by
    accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school.
  • Core Values emphasize friendly sportsmanship, respect for the contributions of others, teamwork, learning, and community involvement

What is Young Innovators’ Society (YIS)?

Based in Solon

  • YIS is a local non-profit organization of volunteers that inspires preK-12 students to pursue STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) learning and entrepreneurship
  • YIS teaches students to become gracious, professional leaders
  • Most of the students are from the local community around Solon
  • Focus is on competing in FIRST competitions but there are also
    other STEM events

How does YIS enhance FIRST?

  • Core Values & Strategy Events
  • Field Trips and/or Speaker Panel
  • Coach Roundtables (training & support for coaches)
  • FLL Discover Festival
  • Robots & Research
  • Scrimmage (pre-tournament practice!)
  • Presentation Night
  • Parents information / membership meeting
  • Resources: coaches, mentors, “kid” mentors, former judges are all part of YIS

What is the relationship between YIS and First?

YIS makes sure you are not going it alone

  • YIS is here to help Parents and Students form teams and compete in FIRST Lego League (FLL) and FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC)
  • YIS is not affiliated with FIRST. YIS provides a community of mentors, coaches, and students to make you successful and get more out of FLL and FTC
  • Registration is separate for YIS and FIRST
  • YIS Registration is to keep all members informed of local events and to create the team T-shirts.
  • FIRST Registration is to attend festivals and tournaments
  • FIRST is global and can be overwhelming. YIS is local!

Historical Season Themes

Each new season brings relevant topics

  • 2010 Body Forward (Biomedical)
  • 2011 Food Factor (Food Safety)
  • 2012 Super Seniors (Improving Seniors’ lives)
  • 2013 NATURES FURY – DISASTER BLASTER
  • 2014 World Class (Improve learning)
  • 2015 Trash Trek (Recycling)
  • 2016 Animal Allies
  • 2017 Hydro Dynamics (Water quality)
  • 2018 Into Orbit (Living in Space)
  • 2019 City Shaper
  • 2020 Game Changer
  • 2021 Transportation
  • 2022 Energy – FLL SUPERPOWERED and FTC POWERPLAY
  • 2023 MASTERPIECE (Art)
  • 2024-2025 SUBMERGED

FLL Discover

Ages 4-6 years
Grades preK-2nd

Not supported by YIS

  • Team size: 4 to 6 students
  • Season: August (or Sept) – January
  • Time: 1 hour per week
  • Cost: approximately $400 per team
  • After about 3 months of weekly team sessions, students can register with FIRST ‘celebrations’ in order to share their experience with the community
  • Completed LEGO DUPLO models
  • Celebrations are non-competitive

FLL Explore

Ages 6-10 years
Grades 2nd-4th

  • Team size: 4 to 6 students
  • Season: August (or Sept) – January
  • Time: 1.5 hours per week
  • Cost: approximately $650 per team
  • YIS dues are $25 each student, which is included in above estimate. Pays for T-shirt and practice Festival
  • After about 3 months of weekly team sessions, students can register with FIRST ‘festivals’ in near by cities to show off and
    present what they have learned in front of judges and see what other teams have done
  • 3 panel Poster
  • Q&A with judges
  • Motorized LEGO models with Programming
  • Festivals are non-competitive

FLL Challenge

Ages 9-14 years
Grades 4th-8th

  • Team size: 3 to 10 students
  • Season: August (or Sept) – January
  • Time: 3 – 6 hours per week
  • Cost: approximately $1400 per team
  • YIS dues are $40 per student which is included in above estimate. Pays for T- shirt, scrimmage, presentation night to prepare for competition.
  • After about 3 months of weekly team sessions, students can register with FIRST ‘tournaments’
  • Robot Design Presentation
  • Innovation Project Idea and Design
  • Solve Real time LEGO robot missions
  • Tournaments are competitive from regionals to nationals

Typical FLL Team Meeting Structure

Much depends on the level and age of students

  • Coaches study the session plan from the FLL Engineering Notebook before the meeting
  • Start with a game or fun event to encourage students to attend and arrive on time
  • Coaches review the session plan with students
  • Execute the session plan
  • For FLL Discover and Explore, students can follow the session plan and LEGO step-by-step instructions
  • Take turns building the LEGO models and programming
  • For FLL Challenge, students can split into pairs for programming, building, brainstorming attachments

Some Important Links

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