GSofSI Teams to Participate in FIRST Robotics with Sponsorship From American Water Charitable Foundation
Our Council has a long and successful tradition of hosting Girl Scout Robotics Teams! Through robotics, Girl Scouts practice teamwork and develop new skills as they take the lead to design, build, and program robots. This year, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois will participate in three levels of FIRST Robotics. Thank you to our sponsor, American Water Charitable Foundation, for helping make this program possible.
FIRST LEGO League Challenge
In FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge, students in grades 4-8 plan and build an autonomous robot that they program to navigate missions that score points on a gameboard. They also conduct an extensive research project. After several weeks of preparation, teams meet at regional tournaments where they compete using their robots and deliver a research presentation.
2025-26 FLL Challenge Teams :
Robo Scouts from Edwardsville, coached by Ellen Helmers and Rachel Reynolds
Tinker Troop from Centralia, coached by Kimberly Storm
Koala Koders from Waterloo, coached by Lori House and Robert Manning
Minecraft Bees from Highland, coached by Emily Stanley and Jonathan Stanley
Grape Soda Club from Belleville, coached by Katie Manno and Kristy Duncan
Shagbark Superstars from Carbondale, coached by Lynne Weeks and Zhenya Hogsett
Lego Ninjas from O’Fallon, coached by Geroge Mitchom and Nicole Bell
Mattoon Robotics from Mattoon, coached by Sara Kirkpatrick
FLL Challenge Schedule:
Southern Illinois FLL Challenge Metro East Qualifier
Saturday, December 6, 2025
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Belleville West High School
Southern Illinois FLL Challenge Metro East Qualifier
Sunday, December 7, 2025
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Belleville West High School
Southern Illinois FLL Challenge Southeast Qualifier
Saturday, December 14, 2025
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location TBA, Southeast, IL
Southern Illinois FLL Challenge Sectional
Saturday, January 18, 2026
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location TBA
FLL State Championship
Saturday, February 15, 2026
Location TBA, Chicago suburbs
FIRST Tech Challenge
In FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), students in grades 7-12 learn to think like engineers. Teams design, build, and code robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams.
2026 FTC Teams
Gear Girls from O’Fallon, coached by Nikki Bell and George Mitchom
Polytechnic Puzzle Pieces from O’Fallon, coached by George Mitchom and Megan Zaiz
FTC Schedule:
Southern Illinois Meet 1
November 15, 2025
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Marion High School, Marion, IL
Southern Illinois Meet 2
December 13, 2026
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Metro East Lutheran High School, Edwardsville, IL
Southern Illinois Meet 3
January 17, 2026
8 a.m. -5 p.m.
Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville, IL
Southern Illinois Central League Tournament
February 6, 2026
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wesclin Senior High School, Trenton, IL
Good luck to all of our Girl Scout Teams! Watch for more news coming soon about our youngest Girl Scout Robotics teams – FIRST LEGO League Explorers!
About American Water Charitable Foundation
In 2010, American Water established the American Water Charitable Foundation. Grants provided by the American Water Charitable Foundation support impactful initiatives and programs throughout American Water’s national footprint.
October 16, 2025
