Inventioneers in Washington, DC

We had an awesome time in DC where we presented our ABCs of FLL workshop to close to 150 people. One new team even formed that day even though 99% of those attending were already on teams! Thanks so much to DC FIRST and the YMCA National Capital!

We met lots of great rookie teams who we plan to stay in touch with for the Body Forward season. We all had fun - which is one of our team's favorite FLL Core Values!

A Great Visit to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in VA

We are jumping for joy outside the USPTO after a fun visit with a trademark attorney and the USPTO Director of Public Affairs. We saw the earliest patents and trademarks and did some patent searches of our own. It was all right up our alley since we're working on our utility patent now!

FIRST tweeted about our visit:

http://twitter.com/firstlegoleague/status/26090813736

Inventioneers' STOW-or-GO Home Practice Table Update

Hi everyone,

Lots of teams are building our STOW-or-GO™ Home Practice Table this season so we thought since we're getting so many requests, we'd post the latest instructions here on our blog. Click the images below to see the documents and make sure you check out all of them before you start building. Have a great season and email us to let us know if you are using the STOW-or-GO™!

The Inventioneers
TheInventioneers@yahoo.com

Inventioneers Win National Competition

The Inventioneers S.M.A.R.T.wheel™/Don't DUIT™ Campaign combination was named one of the top 50 youth safety programs in the entire nation! The $1,000 prize was presented to our organization by the Allstate Foundation/National Organizations for Youth Safety as part of their 50 Best Awards program. Click the link below to learn more:

Inventioneers Win National Competition

Inventioneers Go To Washington!

Check out our "Inventioneers On The Road" blog for more about our upcoming trip to share our insider tips with new teams in our nation's capital!

Photos from our Manchester ABCs of FLL, August 19, 2010

hosted by FIRST Place

Check Out Our Newsletter !

We send out an email to all our contacts with hints, tips and opportunities for new teams. Check it out by clicking on the image below!

More Team Puzzle Fun from the Inventioneers

Check out this link: Online Puzzle Maker to make your own LEGO part puzzles. Make your list, create and print out the puzzle. When team members complete their puzzle, have them go to a parts bin and match the right parts to their word search list. Have FUN!

Inventioneers' Teamwork Pledge

Get off to a great start this season by developing some team rules. In the long run, you'll find rules are your friends and can resolve even the stickiest situations! Have the team members come up with the ideas for rules or have them select from a list of possibilities that you come up with. Don't forget to involve the parents in committing to and enforcing the rules. Post the team's selected rules prominently at your meeting location. After all, rules just focus in on the elements necessary for good teamwork.

From your team's list, create a teamwork pledge that all team members sign to reinforce their commitment and accountability to each other. Click below to see an example of a teamwork pledge we customized for our team.

More Press

We're really getting coverage around the country with our SMARTwheel invention and our Don't DUIT campaign:

The Las Vegas Review Journal

Resource for New Teams

We've had a spectacular summer and have been busy supporting new teams with training workshops (more on that soon)! One resource we want to make sure everyone has access to is our "Top 25 Tips for Parents" booklet. Click the image below for a free download (don't forget to print it double-sided) of these helpful ideas for how parents can provide valuable support for their child's team!

Another LEGO Word Search

To all rookie teams,

Here's another activity to have in your toolkit for your rookie season. Need something fun for your next team meeting? Study the names of LEGO parts (use the list on page 2 of the puzzle, which also includes the answer key) and then give your team page one of the
LEGO Parts Word Search - New. Click the image below for a free download. Have FUN!

Your friends,
The Inventioneers