About

FLL has been an integral part of the middle school project-based STEM curriculum. However, with the retirement of teacher Caroline Hanson and the disruptions to our schools with Covid-19, there was no longer a robotics class at the middle school. Our middle school teams have won multiple trophies over the years. One has even made it to worlds based on an outstanding innovations project.

In 2021, the high school teams worked independently and competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge in Utah (in person) and in Colorado (remote). The Black Forest Team was invited along with 29 of the world's best robotics teams to the Maryland Tech Invitational where they made it to the semifinals. The robotics journey for these students started in middle school. As parents of a Black Forest team member and of a middle schooler, we and other parent volunteers sought to bring this back for the kids. There are almost 80 every enthusiastic builders and coders signed up this year.