FIRST LEGO League Explore Festival
Sunday, March 15 2026

Date: Sunday, March 15 2026
Location: Batavia High School [Cafeteria] - 1201 Main Street, Batavia Illinois 60510

Each season, Fox Valley Robotics hosts a FIRST LEGO League Explore Festival. Teams from the area are invited to share their model and poster with the reviewers during the event.

The Festival is open to the public. 

Preparing for the Event

If your team is attending the Festival, here are a few tips.

1. Packing the model can be hard! Don't leave it to the last minute. Flat boxes (used for fruit/veg) at the grocery store make great boxes to have model parts stay flat. If the model is tall and not robust, think about either separating the model or using something soft to cushion around the model. Models transport best on a flat surface, like on the floor in a car's backseat or in the trunk.
2. Practice the reviewing session. Bring in older siblings or students to practice sharing the presentation or answering questions. Reviewers want to hear what the Explore students have done! Don't worry if the team doesn't have a rehearsed presentation- we know some teams just won't get to it. Reviewers are prepared with questions to ask the team if they don't have a presentation. If the team has a presentation, the Reviewers want to hear it! Practice speaking loud enough for students to be heard and remember that students can have note cards, sheets or paper, or whatever else helps them be comfortable!
   
3. Move as a flock: there are going to be a lot of teams at the festival. Make sure each student knows where their team table is so they can find it again. Encourage them to explore as a team or in small groups, visiting the different activity stations set-up throughout the room.
4. Help the kids shine: these students have spent their season working, playing AND learning. Let's help them by celebrating what they have accomplished. Reviewers don't need parents or coaches to explain the model or run code, let's let the kids do it.
5. Ask questions! Need help? Have a question about the event? Want to learn what comes next after Explore? Ask! There are a lot of volunteers at the Batavia Festival ready to answer your questions or direct you to someone who can.

Make sure to bring:

• The team model
• The UNEARTHED mat
• The team poster
• The team

Optional items to bring:

• LEGO for emergency repairs
• A spare power cable for the model's electronics
• Computer or tablet, if required to run the programs
• Power cable for the computer/tablet
• Team T-shirts
• A plastic tote for team coats/boots (weather dependent)
• Anything else your team requires!