In December, our team ran the Cedar Falls FLL Regional Qualifier and FLL Jr. Expo. 34 FLL and 14 Jr. FLL teams attended the event to share all they learned throughout the season. This year’s event was extra special because it was the tenth year that we have run the Regional Qualifier. This was also the sixth year that we have run the two FLL Jr. Expos here. As one of our biggest events of the year, all team members were involved, volunteering in the various positions needed in order for this day to run smoothly.

While the FLL teams were busy with their matches in the gym, the FLL Jr. kids were busy presenting their builds in the hallway. From time to time we allowed the FLL Jr. kids to experience what it was like to be in a match. They were paired with an FLL team, got to go through the special hallway, and stood with the team cheering them on during the match. We introduced them to FRC with a presentation in the gym after the matches were over. Throughout the day, we demonstrated our robot in the pits and let kids get a closer look at it. Local FTC teams showed their robots as well. In the end, the kids got to show off their brilliant ideas and were able to walk away with brand new knowledge.