01 · Founders Edition · 2026–2027

FIRST LEGO League

A guided robotics program for children in grades K–8. Ages run from about 5 to 16 and vary by region. Each year a team researches, builds, and codes around one challenge. This site is East Texas for BIOGLOW.

Grades 2–4 · Ages 6–10ExploreDesign and code with SPIKE Essential, build a rainforest model, and share it at a festival. Every team receives an award.Grades 4–8 · Ages 9–16ChallengeUp to 10 children. A SPIKE Prime or EV3 robot runs 15 missions in 2.5 minutes, and the team proposes a solution to a biodiversity problem. Grade 4 can join either division.

This season, 2026–2027

BIOGLOW was released August 4, 2026. The theme is ecosystems and biodiversity. 2026–2027 is the final season of FIRST LEGO League. East Texas runs the Founders Edition: Explore and Challenge. Future Edition is coming soon.

The program, 2024–2025

  • 328,318students
  • 39countries
  • 48%of coaches reported more confidence with math and science
  • ~45%of coaches reported stronger teamwork

FIRST’s count for 2024–2025, across the whole program. East Texas this year is 89 teams in, toward 120.

What a season asks

  1. 01

    One challenge

    2026–2027 is BIOGLOW: biodiversity, and how living systems stay in balance.

  2. 02

    A real problem

    Explore teams present a rainforest model and a poster. Challenge teams explain a problem that puts biodiversity at risk, and a solution.

  3. 03

    Build and code

    Explore uses SPIKE Essential. Challenge uses SPIKE Prime, or a MINDSTORMS EV3 robot a team already owns. The Challenge robot leaves home, runs missions, and can come back to be changed.

  4. 04

    A day in public

    Explore ends at a festival. Challenge teams play matches and meet judges. East places and dates go on the schedule when they are set.

How Challenge is scored

Four equal parts: Core Values, the Innovation Project, Robot Design, and the Robot Game. Fifteen missions on the field.

Core Values

Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork, and Fun. They apply in both divisions.

East Texas

Texas has six regions: North, Central, East, South, West, and Panhandle. Central is Austin and San Antonio. Dee Memon administers East. Region questions go to nwilkerson@firstinspires.org.

The EastPeople, the season count, and the BIOGLOW marks.ScheduleDates FIRST has published, and the East dates still to come.Host sitesFestival and qualifier cards. Names go in when a place is assigned.Get involvedNewsletter, volunteering, and a person to write.
Volunteer