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Support Tolland County Robotics!
Overview
Overview
Grades: 5 - 8
Locations: Ellington, Mansfield, and Storrs, CT
Meeting Times: See individual programs below
Start Date: August 31st/September 1st
End Date: January 9th
Cost: Free
Support Our Program
Support Our Program
FLL Challenge is 100% free for our students. We are able to do this through the generous support of sponsors and donors. In this link, we have many of the costs our teams incur. Please considering making a donation to support the teams.
Friendly competition is at the heart of FLL Challenge, as teams of students engage in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game. As part of FLL Challenge, teams also participate in a research project to identify and solve a relevant real-world problem. There are 3 main components of the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Program:
The Robot: Students will build and program a robot using Spike Prime technology to complete missions on a field. The video to the right describes the 2023 game field and missions that students created their robots to complete.
The Innovation Project: Completely separate from the robot, students are given a yearly theme. They are then challenged to identify a problem in that field, develop a solution to that problem, and present their research to a panel of judges. As a part of this project, students will meet with industry experts and complete research. The video to the right describes an example of the 2021 innovation project.
The Core Values: Through the program design and implementation, the core values of FIRST are embedded in everything the students do.
The student's experience culminates with an end-of-the-year competition where they'll compete with over 20 teams from around the state. A select few teams will then be invited to the Connecticut State Championship.
Here are some findings from the program:
Apply for the 2026-2027 Program
Apply for the 2026-2027 Program
Applications for the 2026-2027 school year are open now!
This application is open to all students in grades 5th-8th for the 2026-2027 school year. If your child is interested in applying for an FLL Challenge team for fall 2026, please fill out the application form below. Please note, this is an application form, not a registration form. We will do our best to fill teams to capacity, but have the right to decline student applications.
While many of our programs are full, we are still accepting applications on a rolling basis. If a spot is not available, you will be added to our waitlist, and we will give you a spot on the team if one becomes available.
Ellington Program
Ellington Program
2 teams at this location (Lead Mentor: Sophie)
Hall Memorial Library, Ellington
Open to all students
Meetings:
Mondays & Thursdays 5:00-7:45PM
Mansfield Program - Afternoon
Mansfield Program - Afternoon
*MMS Students ONLY
2 teams at this location (Lead Mentor: Austin)
Mansfield Middle School
Must be an MMS student for the 2026-27 school year
Meetings:
Tues & Thurs 2:45-5:00PM*
Storrs Program
Storrs Program
2 teams at this location (Lead Mentor: Alron)
UConn Storrs, Innovation Zone (Werth Tower)
Open to all students
Meetings:
Tuesdays & Fridays 6:30-9:00PM
Mansfield Program - Evenings
Mansfield Program - Evenings
1 team at this location (Lead Mentor: Amanda)
Mansfield Middle School
Open to all students
Meetings:
Mondays & Wednesday 5:30-8:30PM
Question and Answer
Question and Answer
For any questions not answered below, please contact amanda@tcrobotics.org.
Are there any costs associated with the program?
Are there any costs associated with the program?
No, our FLL Challenge program is free to participate in. If you'd like to make a donation, please visit our FLL donation page to support the efforts of the Tolland County Robotics Foundation.
Are parents required to stay for the duration of the program?
Are parents required to stay for the duration of the program?
No, parents are not required but are more than welcome to stay for the duration of the program. Parents are encouraged to help their child in any way they can. Some parents even become mentors, and if you're interested please email amanda@tcrobotics.org. No experience is needed to mentor or contribute to the program, there are plenty of ways for parents to help out!
How long is the program?
How long is the program?
The program is from late August to January. Students meet 5-6 hrs/week. All teams will participate in an offseason event in mid January. Teams will likely meet once in January before the event to prepare their robot.
How do you communicate with parents?
How do you communicate with parents?
We will communicate with parents via email.
Do students need to be from Storrs or Mansfield to participate in the program?
Do students need to be from Storrs or Mansfield to participate in the program?
No, there is no residency requirement for our Ellington, Storrs, or MMS evening programs. For our teams at Mansfield Middle School afternoon, you must be a student at Mansfield Middle School.
Do I have to attend every single session?
Do I have to attend every single session?
In this program, students commit to a team. As such we expect students to attend every session. We understand that illness and other issues may arise, but we hope that every family that signs up commits to the program.
Will students work in a team?
Will students work in a team?
Yes, students will be working in teams of 6-9 students for the duration of the season.
Who will be running the program?
Who will be running the program?
The program is run by mentors of the Tolland County Robotics Foundation who receive training and go through a background check. Some of these mentors are parents, college students, or alumni of the FIRST Robotics program. Our teams at Mansfield Middle School are run in partnership with MMS teachers and foundation mentors.
Is there a competition at the end of the season?
Is there a competition at the end of the season?
Yes, at the end of the season, students attend an end-of-the-year competition where they will compete against teams from all over the state. Teams will participate in a pre season scrimmage at UConn in early November to give students a preview of a competition. Their official competition will be towards the end of November. Teams that do well may be selected to move on to the state championship, which will be held in mid-December.
What is the next program after FIRST Lego League Challenge?
What is the next program after FIRST Lego League Challenge?
After students become too old for FIRST Lego League Challenge, they can participate in the FIRST Tech Challenge. Please visit that page of our site for more information.
What if the team makes it to the state championship?
What if the team makes it to the state championship?
If the team advances to the state championship, they will continue to meet after their first competition until their second competition (the state championship).
All teams will attend the offseason in January, regardless of if they make states.
Why is there a non-technical aspect of the program (the Innovation Challenge)?
Why is there a non-technical aspect of the program (the Innovation Challenge)?
While the innovation challenge doesn't always involve hard STEM skills, it is an incredible way for students to learn real-world skills that set them up for success. This part of the program helps students develop critical thinking, presentation skills, research skills, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. Most importantly, the innovation project helps demonstrate to the students how science and technology can be used to improve the world.
My student is in 4th grade, what program should they sign up for?
My student is in 4th grade, what program should they sign up for?
Starting in the 2026-2027 season, 4th grade students will be part of the LEGO Explorers Program. Please visit the LEGO Explorers page for more information.
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