To join an FVR team, a student must be signed up and paid (or a payment plan in place) prior to the close of registration.

Registration fees can be made online by credit card or by mailing a check to Fox Valley Robotics, PO Box 96, Batavia IL 60510.

The registration cost includes national team registration, an Illinois Explore Festival, meeting room fees, season t-shirt, a team challenge budget, parts and materials replenishment, and the robotics general funds. Misuse or abuse resulting in damaged pieces will be charged for appropriately.

A limited amount of scholarships are available for those who are in financial need. If a student wants to do robotics, we would like to make that happen. Begin a discussion with an email to info@foxvalleyrobotics.com.

All payments are nonrefundable.

FVR reserves the right to refuse a person from participating in a division. The family may be offered a full or partial refund if dismissal occurs early in the season.

FVR teams are typically between 4 and 6 students. Teams are formed based on the following priorities:
   1. Participant requests (friends, siblings, previous teammates)
   2. Grade
   3. School
   4. Town
Additional factors taken into consideration are previous experience in LegoWolves and gender.

FVR tends to put rookie members on teams with other rookies members to allow the team members to grow in knowledge and skill together.

The FVR LegoWolves season begins in January. Weekly division meetings continue into March. A capstone event in Batavia takes place in March.

The weekly meeting location is at a facility on the east side of St. Charles on Main Street.

Meetings are from 1-3 pm.

Most of the weekly meetings are on Saturdays. There may be an exception or two due to older members of FVR competing at State level tournaments. On the exception weekends, the meeting will be on Sunday. The schedule below is for last season to provide an example. Other organization's schedules will eventually allow us to create the 2027 schedule.

The 2026 schedule
January 17 Kickoff meeting
January 24
February 1 - Sunday
February 7
February 15 - Sunday
February 21
February 28
March 7
March 14 - the last weekly meeting
March 15 - Sunday Festival at the Batavia High School, an Illinois event with other teams attending

The weekly meetings are required for all teams. There are no additional meetings for the LegoWolves.

Meetings are used to cover the challenge and guide teams in creating their model and poster. A season schedule is handed out to participants at the first meeting.

FVR parents are expected to be involved in some way. They are expected to work together to coach the team unless one or two parents decide to step-up and be coaches. Teams cannot be in attendance without at least one parent present in addition to a coach. Below are a few of the possible parent involvement scenarios:

   1. One coach with additional involved parents who offer support whether it be helping the team coordinate efforts, make decisions, stay focused, or as assistant coaches.
   2. Two coaches where one coach may be a "LEGO model" coach and guide the team to incorporate electronic parts while the other coordinates the Show Me poster. .
   3. Two coaches who share the work equally
   4. More than two coaches who share the work

All LegoWolves materials (schedule, worksheets, model guides, sample poster layouts) are provided to the parents.

FVR coaches are expected to follow these guidelines:
   • Kids do the work
   • Coaches are meant to be guides: help lead students to the answers while never giving them the answer
   • Be fair and consistent while mediating team discussions
   • Help the team divide work and make sure every voice and contribution is heard
   • Push the team to learn new topics, grow as individuals, and grow as a team
   • Kids do the work 🙂 

Coaches of experienced or older teams are expected to step back and let their students manage themselves within the capabilities of the team. A great coach is one who can help students learn in a fun and engaging way while encouraging them to try new things and push the boundaries of their knowledge base. Great coaches do not have to know how to build a LEGO masterpiece or program it. Great coaches help their students break tasks into manageable pieces. Great coaches help guide their students in effective time management and communication.

FVR teams are expected to:
   1. Do the work
   2. Take mistakes in-stride: mistakes are learning tools so learn from them
   3. Share the work with your fellow teammates
   4. Encourage yourself, your teammates, and fellow students
   5. Help guide your teammates or other teams to answers if they need help
   6. Push yourselves to learn new ideas and concepts
   7. Live the FLL Core Values both in robotics and everyday life

Teams use the experience of their parents and coaches to help guide them and instruct them.

FVR teams are also expected to:
   • Help fellow FVR teams
   • Be respectful and mindful of our Saturday meetings including discussions, speakers, other teams, and your own team
   • Be responsible: take initiative to clean up your messes & help others with theirs, keep the work space tidy, join in setup or teardown
   • Be respectful of the equipment and facility including robots and field kits