Spring Lake Lego Lakers- A FIRST LEGO League Team

Each year FLL works with experts in their fields to create a challenge that relates to a significant real-world issue. The end result is a two-part Challenge: Part 1- The Project Over an 8-week period, teams must perform research and create a solution to a real-world problem. They must then share that solution with their communities and develop a creative presentation to present to judges at tournaments. Part 2- The Robot Game Over the same 8-week period, teams must use science & engineering as well as creative problem solving to design, build, and program a Lego NXT robot to solve missions on the tournament table. Often frustrating, it’s a fun and exciting way to encourage kids’ minds!	Sneak peak at 2009's theme! Smart Move- Transforming Transportation Can FIRST LEGO League teams transform the way we look at transportation? The key to the 2009 “Smart Move” Challenge is accessing people, places, goods and services in the safest, most efficient way possible. In this journey, teams will consider many modes of transportation beyond their daily routine and streamline their options by making smart moves! Season kickoff is September 3, 2009!
	Past Challenges:
	2008 Challenge Climate Connections- Building a global game plan We embarked on an exploration of the earth's climate in the Climate Connections Challenge! We discovered the links between science, people, resources and communities. We also unearthed how we learn about past climates and delved into questions surrounding our current and future climatic conditions. We joined FLL teams from around the world in creating a global game plan as we made these Climate Connections! The Men in Black designed a supplemental buoyancy system for Great Lakes freighters which they named "Bubble Buddy." This innovative solution won the team FIRST PLACE overall at the 2008 regional tournament and FIRST PLACE for MOST INNOVATIVE SOLUTION at the 2008 Michigan state tournament!
	2007 Challenge Power Puzzle- Meeting the world's energy needs With the 2007 FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge, Power Puzzle, FLL teams tried to piece together the best solution to one of the world’s most significant challenges: how to create sustainable options to meet our planet’s growing energy needs in a way that is good for the environment. The Power Puzzle Challenge asked teams to explore how energy production and consumption choices affect energy sources and evaluate the impact on their communities and the world. Our team worked with Tri-Cities Ministries to help them improve the energy efficiency of their aging building. We performed an energy audit to determine where energy was being used and what steps we could take as a team to help them decrease their consumption. Our efforts saved Tri Cities Ministries 25% on their gas bill and 15% on their electric bill, which is combined about $125 per month!
	2006 Challenge Nano Quest- Exploring existing sciences at the molecular level Nanotechnology is a new scientific frontier that will impact many facets of society, from medicine to computers to the environment. The nano world is 100,000 times smaller than the thickness of a single strand of hair. At the nano level, everything jumps and shakes – even solid things like tabletops. Imagine, the atoms that make up a solid object constantly move and vibrate! Our team worked to create a new lipstick which we called "Nano Lip Lights." It was received very well by the judges and won us the "Rising Star" award at the state tournament in Michigan! This award is given to the rookie team that shows the most promise at a given tournament and we were very honored to receive it at the state level in our first year in FLL.