Building Robots, Building Kids: Inside FLL with Coach Amy

What is FLL, and what are the four main parts of it?

Coach Amy of FIRST Lego League was here for an interview recently. The following are the results of the interview: she said the four main parts of the FLL Challenge program are the robot game, robot design, the innovation project, and core values. 

How did you first get interested in robotics, and what made you want to become a coach? 

Amy told us that in the years 2017-2018, she was a small part of the organization. Jacob, her son, got a ticket to the world championship, and her other son, Ben, was going. She wanted to become a coach because she liked the FLL atmosphere. The program now starts at 5K and extends to high school. 

How long have you been coaching FLL teams?

Amy informs us that she has been coaching for 8 years. She tells us that she has been coordinating FLL for 7 years. This year, she is also in the advisory role.  Amy also told us that she will be coaching "a long time" in the future, as younger people join. Jokingly, she tells us that she will be coaching until her hair is gray and she’s in a wheelchair.

How many teams and students participate in Pewaukee’s FLL program?

Amy shared that for the 2025-2026 FLL season, we are projected to have just under 200 students participating. For FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), we have 33 students so far.

About how many schools in Wisconsin have an FLL team?

Amy said it is a great time to join, as many teams are working alongside you. Badgerbots, one of the primary sources, says that 250-300 teams are competing in the Challenge and another 200 in the Explore program. But contradictorily, there are currently 500-600 teams in Wisconsin, according to FIRST Inspires. There are 19 schools in Wisconsin and one FRC team in Pewaukee Robotics.

What advice would you give to kids thinking about joining robotics?

Her advice for kids planning to join is: “It's a lot of fun, but it's a lot of work.” She says that if you are thinking about it, you should take the summer school class to understand its structure. She encourages people to join the program because the program teaches you so much.

What else should our readers know?

She really wants us to know that the high school teams help the Challenge program, and the Challenge team members support the Explore program. She states, "You aren't just using kids to build robots. You're using robots to build kids”. She also says, "One Pewaukee Robotics is the continuous flow of FIRST in our school district where the older students mentor and help the younger students".

We appreciate and thank Amy for sharing her knowledge and time with us.