---

FIRST LEGO League Prepares to Make “Smart Moves” in Transforming Transportation

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) registration is currently open for the 2009 "Smart Move" season. As of this publication, over 2,100 teams have already registered, and we expect 16,000 teams in 40 countries around the world by the close of registration in September. In order to prepare for the upcoming "Smart Move" Challenge, FLL Operational Partners from the US and Canada, in addition to Haiti and Colombia, gathered at FIRST Headquarters in Manchester, New Hampshire in May for the 2009 Partner Conference.

The 2008 Climate Connections season capped off with what has been described as "the best World Festival ever!" as part of the FIRST Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. The 1st Place Champion's Award went to Team 55, “Da Peeps” from Swartz Creek, Michigan. View the FLL World Festival photo gallery.

FLL is also in the process of planning the currently untitled 2010 Challenge, in which teams will tackle the topic of biomedical/bioengineering. The 2010 Challenge Advisory Team, comprised of experts from these fields, participated in an intensive workshop in June, 2009 to help FLL staff begin the process of developing the Robot Game and Project for this Challenge.