Today FIRST published this year's FIRST Lego League, or FLL for those in the know, challenge for all to view. I've been involved with FLL since 2001 and while it takes a great amount of my time in the fall I know the end result is worth it.

Kids today are interested in becoming a pop or movie star or even a famous athlete. The purpose of FIRST is to make math and science interesting to them by presenting challenges in the subject that are in the same format as an athletic competition. Hopefully some will go on to be doctors, scientists, mathematicians or engineers. The program does work, I've seen it, science and learning suddenly becomes cool.

FIRST has weeklong camps during the summer and at other times of the year, but the big things are the programs for various age groups. Jr. FLL is a subset of FLL for kids in kindergarten through 3rd grade, ages 6-9. FLL is for grades 4th through 8th, ages 9-14. FTC is for grades 9-12, ages 14-18. And finally, the big one, FRC is for grades 9-12, ages 14-18.

In FLL the kids learn the practical application of math and science as they build an autonomous robot using a Lego RCX (8-bit processor) or NXT (32-bit processor). They program the robot to perform various tasks that it must complete in a two and a half minute period on a table that measures 4'x8'. Additionally they are judged on a technical presentation about their robot and the missions it performs, teamwork, a research project and presentation, as well as community outreach. They learn innumerable skills, organizing and planning are usually what they lack most, in the process and advance their computer, math and science education. All while having fun, learning good respectable values in a truly friendly competition and hopefully lighting a fire of interest in something technical.

The FRC program uses radio controlled robots that the kids design with CAD then machine and build themselves starting with a kit of common parts that they supplement with other raw materials they can scrounge up or purchase.

These programs are huge, with thousands of teams competing worldwide where they progress from regional competitions up to large multi-day international competitions.

Some teams are school based, others are from boys clubs, girls clubs, scout groups, home schools, even neighborhood groups. Most have little in the way of resources, either financial or technical assistance. So that's where you come into the picture. You don't have to know about Legos or the programming languages they use or even have kids in the program. Get some warm bodies to become a mentor or coach, volunteer or donate time or money. Be a judge or referee, it's a great way to spend a day and lots of fun plus you really get to see everything up close and personal. Get your company to sponsor a team or two. Everything helps.

What do you get out of it? As Dean Kamen, the founder of FIRST says, "I may not solve cancer myself, but one of these kids may some day because of this." That sounds like a good way to pay it forward.