Hi , 

Coming to you from FIRST^® LEGO^® League HQ in Manchester, NH, USA.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Challenges in scientific research only make the discoveries more rewarding.” 

- Mary Leakey, Archaeologist/Anthropologist

WHAT'S NEW

A New Era for FIRST^® LEGO^® League: Explore our latest blog post for a look at the next era of FIRST LEGO League, and find answers to frequently asked questions in the FIRST^® Help Center. We will be sharing additional updates in the weeks ahead.

Thank You, Coaches & Mentors: We want to give a BIG thank you to each coach and mentor who gives their time and energy to FIRST students. In honor of Mentoring Month in January, we are celebrating all the important work you do within our communities, schools, and organizations.

🤖 Enter our Mentoring Month Raffle: Enter the 2026 FIRST Mentoring Month raffle for a chance to win one of ten FIRST Store gift codes worth $100. One entry per person, raffle is open now until February 1, 2026. Submit for your chance to win! 

🤖 Mentor Year of Service Recognition Pins in the FIRST Store: FIRST is excited to launch a brand-new Mentor Year of Service Recognition program designed to appreciate adult tenured mentors who have given years of service to FIRST. 

FIRST Certified Professional Development: Unlock your potential by signing up for one of our upcoming remote or in-person professional development sessions focusing on the Founders Edition of FIRST LEGO League Challenge. Register now for upcoming in-person & remote professional development. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

REMINDERS

UNEARTHED™ Challenge Update: A Challenge Update was posted on December 9. Make sure to bookmark the Challenge Updates & Clarifications and review it throughout the season. 

Break ground on your UNEARTHED Season Celebration: Dig into this blog post for tips on celebrating all your hard work and innovation this season. 

Additional UNEARTHED Challenge Sets Available for Purchase: Is your team looking for an additional Challenge Set? Teams are now able to order one (1) additional UNEARTHED set. Go to the FIRST Dashboard to place your order.     

Holiday Hours: FIRST Headquarters will close at 3:00 p.m. ET on Friday, January 16 through Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will resume normal hours on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST

Discover the technology used by scientists to unearth an ancient city. 

CELEBRATION AND SHOUTOUTS

Is your team digging into an upcoming #UNEARTHED event?  

Let us know on social media and be sure to tag us!