Common Questions

What is FIRST?

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

  • An international not-for-profit organization (501(c)(3)) 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
  • Corporate sponsors and alliances
  • Global robotics competitions
  • YIS is participating in FLL and FTC
  • YIS is not currently active in
    FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
  • Visit their website
    https://www.firstinspires.org/about/vision-and-mission

What is Young Innovators’ Society (YIS)?

“Think Gracious Professionalism”

  • 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 Event
  • Field Trips and/or Speaker Panel
  • Coach Roundtables (training & support for
    coaches)
  • FLL Discover Festival
  • FLL Challenge Level Only Events
  • Robots & Research
  • Scrimmage (pre-tournament practice!)
  • Presentation Night
  • FTC Scrimmage or Tournament
  • 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
    SUBMERGEDSM
    https://www.youtube.com
    /watch?v=4JV7x014U0I

FLL Discover

Ages 4-6 years
Grades preK-2nd

  • 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 might be …

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

Where can I find more information?

Here are some important links:

Scroll to Top