FIRST Lego League teams from throughout North Central Washington will converge on Clovis Point Intermediate School Saturday, Dec. 9 for the FIRST Lego Regional Robotics Competition. The Wenatchee Valley Museum, in partnership with Apple STEM, FIRST Washington, GWATA, the Rutherford Family and the Eastmont School District are co-hosting. It is the first year a regional tournament has been planned for the valley.
Chelan-Douglas School Retirees Association and the Alcoa Corporation are tournament sponsors.
Ahead of the tournament, student teams develop their individual robot based on the Lego EV3 Mindstorms system. The robots are designed and programmed to address specific challenges issued by FIRST Lego League national contest organizers. Teams also are judged on a research project related to a themed challenge. The research project is always based on a current world issue. This year’s theme is Hydrodynamics, the Human Water Cycle. Judges also observe how the team members adhere to FIRST Lego League’s core values related to professionalism.
This is the second year the Wenatchee Valley Museum has sponsored a competition team. The Holographic Cats are coached by Lara Hays, Karen Rutherford and Bob Straub.