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2024 Quad Cities FIRST LEGO League Challenge Kickoff, Sat, September 14, 2024 #FLLKickoffQC

Last Update (12Sep24 – 2:53PM) 

The Quad Cities Engineering & Science Council (QCESC) is excited to support the 10th Quad Cities FIRST LEGO League Challenge Kickoff!  The event is being hosted by our long-term partner, the Putnam Museum & Science Center in Davenport, Iowa.   

FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams from Iowa and Illinois including students, coaches and mentors are cordially invited to attend this FREE Kickoff for the 2024-2025 SUBMERGEDSM Challenge season.  

The Kickoff provides a fun, interactive way to meet other teams, FIRST  Volunteers, and share key FIRST  LEGO League Challenge information.  You’ll receive innovation project guidance and insight from event speakers along with organizations that provide insights to help teams as they decide on their research project that connects with SUBMERGED and life beneath the surface of the ocean.  A robot field will be setup with the State of Iowa Head Referee supporting demonstrating and answering questions. 

To attend and participate, please register using the links below with further details following.

Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Casey Harwood, Associate Professor from the University of Iowa College of Engineering.  Among his responsibilities are supporting the Marine Science and Technology Lab.  Dr. Harwood has a PhD & MSe in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of Michigan and BS from the Webb Institute.

The kickoff will include:

  • Opening session in the Putnam Theater with our keynote speaker Dr. Casey Harwood providing insights on his year’s challenge.  In addition, information on Iowa and Illinois qualifiers will be shared. 
  • A FIRST LEGO League Challenge field with the State of Iowa head referee to help demonstrate and answer questions.
  • Session for coaches and mentors which is particularly helpful for new volunteers. 
  • Displays from all FIRST programs including FIRST LEGO League Discover, FIRST LEGO League Explore, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotics Competition.
  • Breakout sessions on Innovation Project, Core Values, Programming, and Strategy, Locomotion and Navigation from top FIRST teams with question & answers

To help ensure we have adequate space and materials, all FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams (students, coaches, mentors and parents), event volunteers, and people supporting Kickoff displays must pre-register and provide signed consent forms when checking in as outlined below.

Event Date & Time:
Saturday, September 14, 2024
8:00 AM – 12:05 PM (see detailed schedule below)

Location:
Putnam Museum & Science Center 
1717 W. 12th Street
Davenport, Iowa  

Links to sign-up to attend as a team, volunteer or have a display – which are all FREE:

Consent & Release Forms:
A signed QCESC consent form must be provided at check in for all attendees.  This includes teams (students, coaches, and mentors) along with event professionals, volunteers and speakers. For students who are minors (less than 18 years old), the consent form must be signed by one of their parent or guardians.

Link to a blank QCESC consent form which will also be available at the check-in table.  

While we encourage teams to attend the entire event, you may attend whatever portion your schedule allows.  A recommended strategy is to have your team divide up so you can attend each of the breakout sessions.  The 8:30 AM Opening is highly recommended for all teams.

As part of the opening session, we will:

  • Introduce Each Team in Attendance
  • Discuss Key Resources Available to Teams
  • Keynote Speaker On SUBMERGED Innovation Project Challenge 
  • Review FIRST LEGO League Qualifier Registration Process for Iowa & Illinois teams

Schedule (subject to updates):

Overall Schedule:

Time Event Location
8:00 – 8:20 Team & Volunteer Check-in Main Entrance
8:30 – 9:30 Opening with keynote speaker, team Introductions,
and qualifier information 		 Theater
9:35 – 10:05 Breakout Session 1 See Locations Below
10:10 – 10:55  Robot Game Setup and Q&A with FLL Referees Grand Lobby
  FIRST Tech Challenge  Demonstration Grand Lobby
  FIRST Robotics Competition Demonstration Grand Lobby
  FLL Discover & Explore Demonstration Grand Lobby
  Kahoot! session for teams supporting SUBMERGEDSM Challenge project insights  Theater
  Coach / Mentor Basics    Immerse East
11:00 – 11:30 Breakout Session 2 See Locations Below
11:35 – 12:05 Breakout Session 3 See Locations Below
12:05 Event Concludes  

Breakout Sessions for FLL Students, Coaches and Mentors

Topic SPIKE  Programming Core Values Project Strategy, Locomotion, Navigation
Location Theater  Immerse East Immerse West  Fab Lab 
9:35 – 10:05 Session 1 Session 1 Session 1 Session 1
11:00 – 11:30 Session 2 Session 2 Session 2 Session 2
11:35 – 12:05 Session 3 Session 3 Session 3 Session 3

Breakout Session Presenters:  

EV3 Programming: Hands-on overview of LEGO Mindstorms SPIKE Prime & EV3 programming
Lead: The Coding Chronicles Team #51759 from Bettendorf who qualified the last two years for the State of Iowa championship receiving 3rd place for Project in 2024 and 1st place for design in 2023 along with participating in the 2023 Worchester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) open in Worcester Massachusetts.  They did such an excellent job with programming for the 2023 kickoff, we have invited them back.  

Innovation Project: Insights on the research project and global innovation award including related items for judge interview 
Lead: JagWIRES Team #56176 from Jordan Catholic School in Rock Island.  They qualified for the Iowa State Championship receiving 3rd Place Champions Award in 2024 and representing Iowa at the WPI Waffle Invitational (Worchester, MA).

Strategy, Locomotion, Navigation:   Insights on strategy, locomotion and navigation including on robot design items with judge interviews. 
Lead: Cyborg Chipmunks Team # 27500 and Flaming Chipmunks Team #35269 together will present. The teams are part of QC Elite Team 648 community organization supporting FLL and FRC teams at their facility QC STEM Alliance at South Park Mall in Moline. In 2024, Flaming Chipmunks #35269 won the Robot Design Award at the Moline Qualifier. Both teams advanced to Sectionals in Batavia.

Core Values: Insights on core values including for relate items for judge interviews.
Lead: FRC Team #5837 Unity4Tech from Waterloo. A diverse team of students from East and West High School coached by all John Deere employees.  Team was formed in 2016.  

 Displays:

  • FIRST in Iowa – Volunteering as Coaches, Mentors & for Events 
  • Southeast Iowa STEM 
  • Iowa State University Youth Outreach 
  • FIRST LEGO League Discover & FIRST LEGO League Explore 

FIRST  Progression of Program On Displays:   

FIRST  Tech Challenge (FTC) demo:
The H2O Loo Bots Team #7247 /  Sea of Electrons Team #7248 from Waterloo, Iowa. 

The Winter Soldiers Team #8813 from Bettendorf, Iowa 

FIRST Robotics Competition demo:
QC Elite Flaming Squirrels Team #648 is a community based FRC team located in Moline with students from both sides of the Mississippi River. They are the oldest FRC team in the Quad Cities. In 2022, they created the QC STEM Alliance at South Park Mall in Moline to help support STEM opportunities in the area.

FRC Team #5837 Unity4Tech from Waterloo. A diverse team of students from East and West High School coached by all John Deere employees.  Team was formed in 2016. 

FIRST LEGO League Challenge Teams Registered so far:

2024 Quad Cities FLL Kickoff Planning Team:

  • Pat Barnes
  • Susan Eckert
  • Molly Franklin 
  • Nama Ganesh 
  • Sankari Kandasamy
  • Kelly Lao 
  • Dale Morrow 
  • Susan McNicholl 
  • Sanchia Horst Sommer 
  • Anne Ryerson 

Key FLL Challenge Resources

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