It may have a toy as a primary component, but a Lego League Tournament is anything but child’s play.

Not only do teams of 9- to 14-year-olds have to build an innovative and working remote-control robot capable of completing simple tasks on an 8-by-4-foot table, but they also must identify a widespread problem and come up with a solution.

This year’s topic? Find out why climate is important to the communities where they live and solve a climate problem.

Twenty-five southern Maine teams took on the challenges at Bonny Eagle High School Saturday at the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Lego League Tournament. The tournament originally had been scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, but was postponed due to a power outage at the school on the day of the tournament.

A three-member team from Gorham, the Lego Jedi Masters, won the tournament with their presentation on acid rain and changing rainfall patterns in New England. The team included Gareth Packard, 13, Elliott Twilley, 12, and Joseph Martin, 12, all from Gorham.

Martin said he knew the Lego competition was the perfect event for him as soon as he heard about it, so he talked to his friends and formed a team last year.

“I’ve been playing with Legos since I was really little,” said Martin. “I just love building things with them.”

Other teams competing included the Village Vipers from Gorham, the Robotic Rebels from Sanford, the Bricksters from Limerick, the Hollis Official Micro Engineers Team, The Titanium Craniums from Gray, and the Troubled Environmental Association team from Acton and Seasonal Weather Environment Action Team from Acton.

According to Thomas Bickford, director of Maine Robotics, a local sponsor of FIRST Lego League, the program was created to get kids excited about science and technology. The league uses theme-based challenges to engage students in research, problem-solving and engineering.

Each annual challenge has two parts – the complex project and the robot game – said Jeff Perry, coach of Sanford’s Robotic Rebels. Working in groups of up to 10 and guided by at least one adult coach, team members have about 10 weeks to build a robot out of Legos that will, in 2 minutes and 30 seconds, complete missions and analyze, research and invent solutions to problems.

The teams must also create a presentation about their solution to perform in front of a panel of judges, said Perry. That solution doesn’t necessarily involve Legos.

Some teams, like the Robotic Rebels of Sanford, chose to focus their presentation on maple trees in New England producing less maple syrup over the years due to warming temperatures. Perry said the team’s solution involved crossbreeding some maple trees with oak trees that can withstand warmer temperatures but can also produce syrup.

The Titanium Craniums from Gray focused their presentation on the decreased numbers of lobsters found in Maine waters.

“The lobsters’ shells soften in warmer temperatures, so they have been traveling north for colder water,” said team member Jesse MacDonald, 13, of Gray. “Our solutions to the problem can stop global warming – like using compact florescent light bulbs instead of regular ones and buying energy-efficient cars.”

Inside the crowded and rowdy Bonny Eagle High School gym, teams in brightly colored T-shirts were scattered in every corner, practicing their presentations and making sure their robots were running properly. Meanwhile, groups of parents and siblings stood by each team, offering support and encouragement.

Once coaches register their Lego League teams each year, they receive a Lego kit in the mail, which vary each year depending on the year’s challenge. Once the team receives their kit in the mail, they can begin building their robot and practice their speech for a climate problem solution.

This year’s mat and Lego pieces included icebergs, polar bears and a house that was to be lifted by the team’s robot during the challenge.

“Everything on the mat stands for something. The teams build a robot that can accomplish a number of assigned tasks for the challenge,” said Perry.

At Saturday’s competition, each team first presented its climate problem in a private room with several Lego League officials, where they were judged on their solution, as well as creativity.

Then, the teams performed their robot challenges in groups of eight in front of the other teams, judges and spectators.

Beth Fagerson, the coach for the Lego Jedi Masters, said the team members couldn’t decide on just one topic to discuss in their presentation, so they chose more than one.

“The kids talked about the effects of acid rain and the changing rainfall patterns in New England and how they cause problems to our area,” said Fagerson. “This is our second year participating in this tournament. It’s a lot of fun for everyone.”

Several awards are given out to the participating teams each year, including teamwork, robot design, team T-shirt design, the robots’ performances on the tables, and project presentations.

In addition to winning the overall tournament, the Jedi Masters team also was awarded first place for robot quality design.

“Every team member on every team is also awarded a medal,” said Perry. “I think no matter whether they win or not, the kids just have fun participating in this event.”

Members of the Titanium Craniums from Gray, Sam Holmquist, Olivia Giles and Alex Cobb, prepare their LEGOs robot for the ninth annual FIRST LEGO League Tournament at Bonny Eagle High School on Saturday.

It may have a toy as a primary component, but a Lego League Tournament is anything but child’s play.

Not only do teams of 9- to 14-year-olds have to build an innovative and working remote-control robot capable of completing simple tasks on an 8-by-4-foot table, but they also must identify a widespread problem and come up with a solution.

This year’s topic? Find out why climate is important to the communities where they live and solve a climate problem.

Twenty-five southern Maine teams took on the challenges at Bonny Eagle High School Saturday at the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Lego League Tournament. The tournament originally had been scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, but was postponed due to a power outage at the school on the day of the tournament.

A three-member team from Gorham, the Lego Jedi Masters, won the tournament with their presentation on acid rain and changing rainfall patterns in New England. The team included Gareth Packard, 13, Elliott Twilley, 12, and Joseph Martin, 12, all from Gorham.

Martin said he knew the Lego competition was the perfect event for him as soon as he heard about it, so he talked to his friends and formed a team last year.

“I’ve been playing with Legos since I was really little,” said Martin. “I just love building things with them.”

Other teams competing included the Village Vipers from Gorham, the Robotic Rebels from Sanford, the Bricksters from Limerick, the Hollis Official Micro Engineers Team, The Titanium Craniums from Gray, and the Troubled Environmental Association team from Acton and Seasonal Weather Environment Action Team from Acton.

According to Thomas Bickford, director of Maine Robotics, a local sponsor of FIRST Lego League, the program was created to get kids excited about science and technology. The league uses theme-based challenges to engage students in research, problem-solving and engineering.

Each annual challenge has two parts – the complex project and the robot game – said Jeff Perry, coach of Sanford’s Robotic Rebels. Working in groups of up to 10 and guided by at least one adult coach, team members have about 10 weeks to build a robot out of Legos that will, in 2 minutes and 30 seconds, complete missions and analyze, research and invent solutions to problems.

The teams must also create a presentation about their solution to perform in front of a panel of judges, said Perry. That solution doesn’t necessarily involve Legos.

Some teams, like the Robotic Rebels of Sanford, chose to focus their presentation on maple trees in New England producing less maple syrup over the years due to warming temperatures. Perry said the team’s solution involved crossbreeding some maple trees with oak trees that can withstand warmer temperatures but can also produce syrup.

The Titanium Craniums from Gray focused their presentation on the decreased numbers of lobsters found in Maine waters.

“The lobsters’ shells soften in warmer temperatures, so they have been traveling north for colder water,” said team member Jesse MacDonald, 13, of Gray. “Our solutions to the problem can stop global warming – like using compact florescent light bulbs instead of regular ones and buying energy-efficient cars.”

Inside the crowded and rowdy Bonny Eagle High School gym, teams in brightly colored T-shirts were scattered in every corner, practicing their presentations and making sure their robots were running properly. Meanwhile, groups of parents and siblings stood by each team, offering support and encouragement.

Once coaches register their Lego League teams each year, they receive a Lego kit in the mail, which vary each year depending on the year’s challenge. Once the team receives their kit in the mail, they can begin building their robot and practice their speech for a climate problem solution.

This year’s mat and Lego pieces included icebergs, polar bears and a house that was to be lifted by the team’s robot during the challenge.

“Everything on the mat stands for something. The teams build a robot that can accomplish a number of assigned tasks for the challenge,” said Perry.

At Saturday’s competition, each team first presented its climate problem in a private room with several Lego League officials, where they were judged on their solution, as well as creativity.

Then, the teams performed their robot challenges in groups of eight in front of the other teams, judges and spectators.

Beth Fagerson, the coach for the Lego Jedi Masters, said the team members couldn’t decide on just one topic to discuss in their presentation, so they chose more than one.

“The kids talked about the effects of acid rain and the changing rainfall patterns in New England and how they cause problems to our area,” said Fagerson. “This is our second year participating in this tournament. It’s a lot of fun for everyone.”

Several awards are given out to the participating teams each year, including teamwork, robot design, team T-shirt design, the robots’ performances on the tables, and project presentations.

In addition to winning the overall tournament, the Jedi Masters team also was awarded first place for robot quality design.

“Every team member on every team is also awarded a medal,” said Perry. “I think no matter whether they win or not, the kids just have fun participating in this event.”

Members of the Titanium Craniums from Gray, Sam Holmquist, Olivia Giles and Alex Cobb, prepare their LEGOs robot for the ninth annual FIRST LEGO League Tournament at Bonny Eagle High School on Saturday.