Learn how to build and program LEGO robots!
Dates: Saturdays, March 9 and Saturday, April 6, 2013
Location: Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center (March 9); University of Massachusetts Amherst (April 6)
Ages: 8 to 13 (must turn 9 by Sept. 2013)

We’re looking for adult chaperones to bring teams of 5 girls to be part of the Western Massachusetts Girls Connect events.  Extremely popular in recent years, this cool all-girl introduction to FIRST LEGO League matches you up with coaches and professional computer scientists & engineers to learn how to build and program LEGO robots to do real-world tasks. 

At the end of the day, we’ll show off our robots in a friendly competition, and teams will receive awards for their hard work.  We’ll also tell you more about FIRST LEGO League and how you might join the fun for the 2013 season. No experience is required. In fact, girls who attended in the past are not eligible—it’s an introduction.

The day-long events will take place at the MGHPCC in Holyoke (March 9) and UMass Amherst (April 6). Teams may attend either date, but not both. In order to receive registration materials, one adult member (teacher, parent, Girl Scout troop leader, afterschool program staff) of your team must join one of the following brief informational conference calls on

Wednesday, February 13th at 7:30pm
Thursday, February 14th at 3:00pm
Wednesday, February 27th at 7:30pm (April 6th event only)
Thursday, February 28th at 3:00pm (April 6th event only)

Join the call by dialing 1-218-339-2699 Access Code 354432. Note, this is not a toll-free number; long-distance charges apply.

Unless you have attended a Girls Connect event in the past, all teams must be represented on one call in order to receive registration materials! Because of the popularity of this program, partial applications cannot be considered. The event is open to teams of girls from Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.

If you have attended a Girls Connect event in the past, email Karen Sullivan (ksullivan@usfirst.org) to receive the application forms and application website link.

Questions: Contact Karen Sullivan, ksullivan@usfirst.org

Want to know more about FLL or FIRST? Visit http://www.firstlegoleague.org and www.usfirst.org

This event is co-sponsored by the Commonwealth Alliance for Information Technology Education (CAITE) (http://www.caite.info ), FIRST (www.usfirst.org), Girls Incorporated of Holyoke (www.girlsincholyoke.org), LEGO Education (www.legoeducation.com), Massachusetts Green High-Performance Computing Center (www.mghpcc.org).

We hope to see you at Girls Connect!

Renee Fall, CAITE
Karen Sullivan, FIRST
Sarah Dunton, Girls Incorporated of Holyoke
Cathy Helgoe, LEGO Education
Claire Christopherson, Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center