Lansing Tech Studio

As we start learning about biodiversity this summer, we're gathering resources that work for a variety of learning styles. 🌎🦋🐝

One thing our family loves is listening to kid-friendly science podcasts while we're driving, working around the house, or exploring outdoors. Podcasts are a great way to learn on the go, and they remind us that learning doesn't have to happen sitting at a desk!

Every child learns differently. Some kids learn best by reading books, others by listening, watching, discussing, building, creating, or getting hands-on with projects. The wonderful thing about exploring a topic like biodiversity is that there are so many ways to learn.

If your family is starting to explore this year's biodiversity theme, here are two fun podcast episodes to check out:

🎙️ WOW in the World
"Samurai Wasps vs. The Stink"
https://tinkercast.com/podcasts/wow-in-the-world/samurai-vs-the-stink-the-science-of-invasive-wildlife-species/

🎙️ Who Smarted?
"Invasive Species: How Do Invasive Species Invade?"
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1319-who-smarted-educational-p-71932605/episode/how-do-invasive-species-invade-164946167

What are your favorite podcasts, books, documentaries, YouTube channels, or hands-on activities for learning about nature and biodiversity? We'd love to add more resources to our summer learning list!

💡 Core Value Spotlight: IMPACT
The work students do in FIRST LEGO League can make a difference beyond the competition table. IMPACT means using what we learn to help others and improve our communities.

Some examples of IMPACT in action:
🌟 Sharing research findings with community members at our demo days.
🌟 Teaching younger students about STEM.
🌟 Creating a project that addresses a real-world problem.
🌟 Inspiring others to learn and get involved through service projects and community engagement.

Every great change starts with someone willing to take action.

🚀 Core Value Spotlight: INNOVATION
Innovation is all about creativity and trying new ideas. In FIRST LEGO League, students are encouraged to think differently, experiment, and find unique solutions to problems.

Some examples of INNOVATION in action:
🌟 Designing a robot attachment no one has tried before.
🌟 Finding a creative solution during a research project.
🌟 Improving an idea after testing and learning from mistakes.
🌟 Looking at a problem from a completely new perspective.

Innovation happens when students are willing to explore, imagine, and create.

🤝 FIRST Core Value Spotlight: Teamwork

In FIRST LEGO League, no one succeeds alone. Teamwork means listening to each other's ideas, sharing responsibilities, helping when someone gets stuck, and celebrating accomplishments together.

Some examples of teamwork in action:
🌟 A teammate teaches another student how to code a mission.
🌟 Team members divide tasks between research, robot design, and presentations while supporting one another.
🌟 Students encourage each other after a mission doesn't go as planned and work together to find a solution.
🌟 Everyone has a chance to share ideas and contribute to team decisions.

The best teams aren't the ones with the smartest robot—they're the ones that learn how to work together, respect each other's strengths, and grow as a team.

We're excited to help students practice collaboration, communication, and problem-solving while having fun and making new friends.

🤖💙

Looking for ways to bring this year's FIRST LEGO League Biodiversity theme to life beyond team meetings?

One of the best things about the FLL season is that learning doesn't have to stay inside the robotics room. There are so many fun, hands-on ways students can explore biodiversity at home, with friends, or as a family.

Some ideas include:

🌿 Nature hikes and species identification challenges
📚 Library research days to learn about local ecosystems
🏠 Gingerbread ecosystem creations
🦁 Visits to zoos, nature centers, and wildlife areas
🔬 Science museum adventures
🎬 Stop-motion animations featuring animals and habitats
🌎 Ecosystem dioramas
♻️ Recycled-material creature creations
🎨 Nature-inspired art projects
📸 Biodiversity photography challenges
🐝 Pollinator garden projects
🦋 Insect, bird, or plant observation journals

The best learning often happens when curiosity meets creativity, and this year's theme offers endless opportunities for both.

Our own family is especially excited because our schedule is changing next year, and we'll have fewer in-person learning days than we've had in the past. To create more opportunities for social learning, we're planning to gather with some available Hackers members throughout the season for some of these biodiversity-themed activities to further our learning and excitement!

Whether you're on a robotics team, homeschooling, attending school, or simply looking for enriching family activities, we'd love to hear your ideas. What biodiversity-themed projects or outings are you most excited about this year?

📣 Hey Community! We're looking for a Biodiversity Expert for Local FIRST® LEGO® League Teams!

We are looking for a community expert to speak with four homeschool/community FIRST® LEGO® League teams and their families as we begin researching this year's biodiversity-themed Innovation Projects.

Our students are ages 9–14 and are eager to learn from someone working in the field of biodiversity, conservation, ecosystems, wildlife, or environmental science.

Possible professions might include:

🌿 Wildlife Biologist
🌿 Conservation Scientist
🌿 Ecologist
🌿 Park Ranger
🌿 Forester
🌿 Environmental Educator
🌿 Naturalist
🌿 Botanist
🌿 Entomologist (insect specialist)
🌿 Fisheries or Aquatic Biologist
🌿 Zoo or Nature Center Educator
🌿 Native Plant Specialist
🌿 Master Gardener
🌿 Conservation Organization Staff Member
🌿 University Professor or Researcher

The event would take place in October and would include:

✅ 1 hour 15 minutes of presentation and Q&A about biodiversity, current challenges, careers in the field, and opportunities for students to make a difference

✅ 45 minutes for students to share their Innovation Project ideas and receive expert feedback

This is a wonderful opportunity to inspire the next generation of problem-solvers, scientists, engineers, and environmental stewards while helping students connect their research to real-world challenges.

If you are interested or know someone who might be a great fit, please comment below or send me a message. We'd love to connect with local experts who are passionate about helping young people learn and grow!

FIRST Core Value Spotlight: FUN 🎉

One of the FIRST Core Values is Fun — because learning, innovation, and teamwork should be enjoyable!

Our goal is to be intentional about creating opportunities for students to build friendships, laugh together, and make great memories while learning STEM skills.

BELONGING is the word that has been put on our hearts for the year.

This year, we're excited to focus on fun through our Hackers Hangouts, including:
🎃 Trick-or-Treating Night
🔫 Nerf Gun Battle
🎲 Board Games
🌳 Park Playdates

We also bring fun into our regular practices with:
🎮 Team themes, props and spirit trinkets
🎨 Creative team poster design activities
🏅 Student participation buttons for each area (new this year!)

Hackers is about much more than building robots. It's about friendships, confidence, and creating a place where students are excited to show up each week to problem solve.

Because when students are having fun, they're often learning the most. 💙🤖

🤖 What Is a FIRST LEGO League Competition Actually Like?

If you've never been to a FIRST LEGO League competition, you might picture students showing up, running their robot once, and heading home.

Competition day is actually a full day of teamwork, problem-solving, and celebrating everything students have worked on throughout the season.

In Michigan, each team participates in:

🔹 One Judging Session – Teams meet with judges in a private room and share all aspects of their season. Students present their Innovation Project, explain their robot design and coding process, and demonstrate how they lived out the FIRST LEGO League Core Values throughout the season. Many teams bring project displays, prototypes, and fun props to help tell their story.

🔹 Three to Four Robot Games – Throughout the day, teams compete in multiple robot rounds on the competition field. Each round gives students another opportunity to improve, adapt, and showcase the robot they've designed, built, and coded themselves.

One of the things we love most about FIRST LEGO League is that success isn't measured by robot scores alone. Students are recognized for research, creativity, teamwork, communication, perseverance, and how they support one another.

You'll see students celebrating personal bests, encouraging teammates, solving problems under pressure, and cheering for other teams. The atmosphere is competitive, but it's also incredibly supportive. They even network with and get to know other teams!

At Lansing Tech Studio, we love that FIRST LEGO League develops more than future engineers. It helps students grow in confidence, learn to work together, and discover that they belong on a team where their unique gifts matter.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing more about the FIRST LEGO League Core Values and why they're such an important part of the experience.

A question we frequently get asked...

"Do you offer high school robotics?" or "When are you going to start a high school team?"

The short answer is: We would love to.

The longer answer is that high school robotics requires a significant step up in facilities, funding, equipment, and volunteer support.

Right now, we're grateful to rent a space in West Lansing on Thursdays. It provides a safe environment for our students, and we have families traveling 30–40 minutes from all over the region to participate. So, where we are is a great middle ground for our families. As our programs grow, however, a high school robotics program would likely require either our own building or a larger space with dedicated storage and build areas.

Funding is another important piece of the puzzle. We'd love to be in a position to offer high school robotics within the next 1–2 years but getting there will require additional resources. We have been working with MBA students for grant and investment opportunities, but these are tricky and take time.

That's one reason our summer fundraiser is so important:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/lansing-tech-studio-field-day-june-27th

As students move into high school robotics, costs increase significantly. Programs like FIRST and VEX require more expensive equipment, competition fees, and materials. FIRST programs also require tools, build space, and equipment for designing and constructing robots.

We're also watching the evolving robotics landscape closely. With LEGO ending its partnership with FIRST and FIRST developing its own K–8 STEM curriculum, we don't yet know which high school program would be the best fit for our community. Whether it's FIRST, VEX, or another option, any path forward will require more time, funding, mentors, coaches, and community support.

What excites us most isn't just the robots—it's the opportunity to continue creating a place where students belong, build friendships, develop leadership skills, and tackle bigger challenges together.
Thank you to everyone who supports Lansing Tech Studio. Every student who attends, every volunteer who helps, and every donor who contributes brings us one step closer to making opportunities like high school robotics a reality.