[0:06]On the final day of the 2026 First Championships in Houston, First officially revealed the theme for the 2026-2027 season, First Canopy. And for First Lego League, the season is called Bio Glow. This year, there are two different versions of the game, the Founders Edition and the Future Edition. The logos even give hints about the field layouts. The Founders Edition shows a purple rectangle with rounded corners representing the field with two launch areas in the bottom corners. The Future Edition uses a teal rectangle split into two sections representing the two adjacent fields teams will play on. In this video, we'll take a closer look at the Founders Edition shown in the season trailer and share our predictions for the missions we caught a glimpse of at the end of the championship. In the First Canopy trailer, we learned that our planet is a web of connections all working together. Scientists and engineers are finding new ways to strengthen that web, studyingtors, tracking species and protecting seeds for the future. In first, we do the same, building solutions inspired by nature and growing stronger through teamwork, perseverance and imagination. Together we grow, together we thrive. The Bio Glow field seems to reflect many of these relationships. First, let's take a closer look at the mat, starting on the left and moving clockwise. In the Southwest, near the red launch area, we have a forest. In the center, it transitions into farmland. A large river system with islands and smaller rivers branching off extends from the center in the south to the northeast corner. Near the blue launch area, we see an urban area. What stands out to us are the farm field and the soccer field, which we think could be target areas where collected game pieces might need to be delivered. The season teaser also shows a game piece getting dropped onto the large island in the river near the red launch area, so that might also be a target area. We think this year's loose game piece are seed pods, small brown pieces with a red stem. We've seen multiple of these attached to different mission models. As in previous years, red seems to be the color of the mission model activators. However, some mission models don't have red activators at all. For our predictions, we'll start with the mission models in the west by the red launch area and move clockwise around the field, then into the center. This first mission model looks like a rock wall. We think the two red angled beams need to be pulled down towards the launch area to lift the wall into an upright position. This likely represents erosion control, where structures like rock walls help prevent soil loss and protect the surrounding ecosystem. The next mission model features three individual leaves with brown loops and a target area marking in front of them. From the reveal video at the championship, we saw that these leaves come off their bases easily. We think they need to be lifted and possibly delivered to a target area for extra points. This might represent invasive species removal where harmful plants are cleared away to help restore a healthy ecosystem. The next mission model looks like it's one part of this year's cooperative mission model. We think teams first need to raise the brown and green structure by pulling or lifting the red activators. Then, the extended angled beams of the white mission model look like they need to be raised to reach over towards the northeast wall until the white chain at the end connects with or possibly even loops over the brown and green model on the other side. We think these two models together represent habitat connectivity, linking separate ecosystems to support wildlife movement. The next mission model along the north wall is a large tree, and we see a lot of creatures around the trunk and in the leaves, such as birds and frogs. And our beloved FLL chicken. We think this model represents biodiversity and how scientists study life in a forest ecosystem. The tree acts as a hub of activity with multiple species living and interacting throughout its structure. We believe there are at least three separate challenges in this model. On the right side of the tree are vines. We believe these start out flat on the mat and must be raised and hooked over a branch near the top of the tree. There is also an observation platform that must be raised using the red activators on the bottom. The mini figures on the platform are likely for decoration only, but they represent different ways scientists interact with nature. One holds a magnifying glass, one has a camera and a flashlight, and another uses binoculars and a book. There's a red beam coming out of the side of the trunk. We aren't sure if this is an activator or if it might be a scoring marker to see if the platform has been raised enough. The third part of this mission model is a spiky seed pod that needs to be removed and collected from a branch on the left side of the tree. Right next to the tree along the north wall, there's a small mission model that looks like a small organism crawling on a branch. The model does not appear to have a red activator, but from the pictures, we believe the green angled beam starts out parallel and must be pushed flush onto the brown angled beam. This could represent how small organisms move through their environment and help connect different parts of the ecosystem. The next mission model looks like an anthill with a tunnel system. A few seconds before showing this mission, a short clip of ants is shown. We believe that by pushing the red ant into the model, gears inside cause the leaves on top to rise. It looks like robots may need to control how fast they push the ant in so the leaves lift up without popping out completely as shown in the video. We'll skip the mission model in the northeast corner for now and move on to the next mission model along the east side of the field. This model looks like a leaning tree that needs to be stabilized. In the front, the red ring attached by a chain to the stem likely needs to be lifted and hooked onto the angled beam near the blue launch area. In the back, there is a small post that can be raised to support the tree. Hanging off the side of the model is another seed pod that will likely need to be collected and delivered somewhere else on the field. For example, to the island scene in the teaser video. As we move along the south side of the field, we come to two mission models. We'll skip the one closer to the blue launch area for now and instead look at the one with the long axles. We think this model represents drone-based wildlife monitoring. There is a drone pilot with binoculars on the base and a drone in the middle that can be raised into the air. By pushing the red activator towards the base, the mechanism forms an upside-down V-shape and lifts the drone up. Moving into the center of the field, on the west side, there's a model with three seed pods hooked onto a green stick. Two of the seed pods are attached with green flex cables and likely need to be removed first. Once these are out of the way, the third pod with the red stem becomes accessible and can be collected and delivered somewhere on the field. For example, to the island scene in the teaser video. In the southern part of the center, there's a model without a red activator, where the lid with green leaves looks like it needs to be flipped open to reveal a target area underneath. In the eastern part of the center is a model that shows up multiple times in the teaser. On top, there are lots of flowers with a branch sticking out to the side that has a seed pod hanging off of it that needs to be collected. On the side of the mission is a panel that needs to be lowered onto the mat to reveal the roots of this little ecosystem. We now move on to the last mission model in the northern part of the center, as well as the two models we skipped over so far, the one in the northeast corner of the field and the one in the south near the blue launch area. We are pretty confident that the black and gray frames under these models are fixed to the mat, while the inner sections can be switched between any of the three different locations. We've seen these models appear in different positions in both the teaser video and at the championship. It'll be interesting to see whether teams can choose where each mission model is placed or if the positions are randomized before the match, in which case, teams will need to program flexible and adaptable solutions to handle any setup. Let's look at these swappable mission models one by one. The first of the three models looks like a multi-level planter box that a game piece needs to be dropped into. In the upper layer, parallel to the long side of the model, are two axles that can swing side to side to let game pieces drop through. Below is another layer of swinging axles arranged parallel to the short side. We think this model highlights the importance of planting seeds at the correct depth. Different layers represent how seeds require different conditions to grow, showing how proper planting supports healthy ecosystems. Most likely, you'll earn more points if you plant the seed at the correct depth. The second model highlights how building design can strengthen connections in the biosphere. Through green roofs that create habitats, ventilation that works with natural airflow, and adjustable roof angles that manage water by either collecting it for reuse or directing it safely to protect the surrounding ecosystem. One quarter of the model has a living roof while the rest is covered by flat black plates. The red square activator appears both extended and flush with the wall in the teaser. When it's pushed in, a black plate slides underneath the living roof revealing an opening that could represent ventilation. There's also another red activator on the side of the house that looks like it opens a wall to allow for additional airflow.
[9:15]The other half of the roof can be raised from flat to angled. It looks like this section can be tilted using a red activator, which could represent adjusting the roof to manage water, either by collecting it or directing it away safely. We aren't sure what the last of the three models represents. In the season trailer, we can see that a pink and red insect with white wings is dropped into the model. It looks like adding its weight raises leaves or bushes on the sides. At the reveal at the First Championship, we saw a similar but different insect in the blue launch area. Does this represent the return of a team-specific innovation model? We believe that teams might need to build their own small insect and deliver it to this mission model. Last but not least, by the northern mission model in the center of the field is what looks like a spider web. This loosely connects to the season teaser's idea of a web of relationships in nature. We're not entirely sure how this model will be scored. The web may either need to be pulled upright or laid flat on the mat. In summary, we are seeing a lot of new mechanisms and a strong connection to this year's theme. There appear to be fewer Lego Technic pieces and more standard Lego elements along with lots of smaller parts, many of which come off easily. There are a lot of individual things going on across the field, which makes it really exciting to see how much teams can accomplish within the allotted time. Overall, it looks like a very fun and dynamic challenge. See you in August for the official kickoff.
