Competitive Robotics
FIRST LEGO League
A hands-on program for youth ages 9–14 in the Hudson Valley.
A hands-on program for youth ages 9–14 in the Hudson Valley.
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is Newburgh Creates' competitive robotics program for middle-school-age students. Teams choose a real-world problem, conduct original research, design and build a LEGO-based robot, and compete in regional tournaments — all while being judged on their teamwork, research, and core values.
FLL is about more than robotics. It develops students who can collaborate under pressure, present ideas to adults, solve engineering problems on the fly, and handle both winning and losing with grace. Our FLL teams compete regionally and have advanced to state-level competition. Students who go through FLL come out ready for anything.
This year's challenge is here: BIOGLOW™ — the 2026–27 biodiversity season ↓
FIRST just announced it — and our teams are in. BIOGLOW is the 2026–27 FIRST LEGO League challenge, part of the biodiversity-themed FIRST® CANOPY™ season. This year, teams around the world will explore the ecosystems that keep our planet alive — and use robotics, research, and imagination to help protect them.
Nothing on Earth thrives alone. Every species and ecosystem is part of a web of biodiversity that powers clean air, fresh water, and food. BIOGLOW asks students a big question: how can technology, creativity, and research help us understand and protect the natural world? Every FLL season has three parts, and our teams train for all of them:
Teams design, build, and program a LEGO Education SPIKE Prime robot to complete BIOGLOW missions on the official playing field — autonomously, in fast-paced 2.5-minute matches.
Teams identify a real problem connected to biodiversity — right here in the Hudson Valley if they choose — research it, design a solution, and present it to judges.
Discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork, and fun. Teams are judged on how they work together — not just what they build.
The BIOGLOW challenge was released August 4, 2026. Our two teams start practice the week of September 14 at 113 Liberty Street and build all season — robot, project, and presentation — through regional qualifiers and a tournament season that runs to late February. Newburgh Creates teams compete in the Challenge division (grades 4–8, Founders Edition), and our teams have advanced to state-level competition before. New team members are welcome; no experience needed.
FIRST®, FIRST® LEGO® League, BIOGLOW™, and FIRST® CANOPY™ are trademarks of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST). LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group. Newburgh Creates is an independent community program and team organization participating in FIRST LEGO League.
Curriculum guides, session plans, and program materials for FIRST LEGO League instructors and partner educators are available in the teacher portal.
Access Teacher Portal →Open to youth ages 9–14 in the Hudson Valley. Scholarships available.
