The last time we checked in on the Pro.mo.tion FIRST Lego League team they were preparing for their first robotics competition in Victoria B.C., in early February.

It was the first time a team from the Yukon, from the North rather, has competed in a Lego League tournament. While in Victoria the team was judged in three different areas.

Each year, the contestants in Lego League are given a theme to work with, this year was Into Orbit. The team was judged on three criteria while at the tournament. The first criteria was core values.

In core values, the judges saw how the team applied discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork, and fun into their robot and into their project.

The second and third judging criteria were the robot games and robot design. The team built and programmed a robot they named Lentil Bean to complete a variety of missions.

There were 15 missions in total during the tournament. As well, they had to present their robot to a panel of judges.

The last portion of the tournament was the project. The team had to tackle a real-world problem that could affect someone going into space. The team decided to address loneliness in space, building a robotic cat, whom they named Elmer, to keep the astronauts’ company.

While at the tournament Pro.mo.tion won the teamwork award, which falls under the core values category.

“After they judged everyone, each set of judges would call groups back,” said Audrey Provan. “They called us back for core values and we said teamwork was the one we used the most.”

There were 40 teams competing in the tournament. For a rookie team to win an award is a big deal. Each member had a different reaction when it was announced that they won an award.

“I was very excited and I almost started jumping up and down going crazy,” said Sunny Moore.

“I was very surprised because only 10 teams out of 40 got awards,” said Evey Moore. “We were still a rookie team and I also got butterflies in my stomach because I had to go up in front of 500 people.”

“My aunt and uncle came down for the tournament,” said Audrey. “They were screaming and all the fans were screaming.”

“At first I didn’t believe we had won,” said Callum Provan. “Then they pronounced Pro.mo.tion Yukon. I was really excited.”

“I felt really excited and sort of happy,” said Dash Provan.

The team’s project was well received by the judges and although they came close to last in robotics they have learned what to do and what not to do when they compete again next year.

The team is the pioneers of the sport in the Yukon and they all said it was awesome to be able to be the first team to represent the territory and teach others what it means to be from the North.

Moving forward the team hopes to promote robotics in the communities and hopefully get a group of teams together throughout the territory.