August 23, 2026 · Piedmont Makers
More than 1,000 East Bay kids are on teams this season, and nearly 200 coaches and mentors came through August training.
Rosters are set. More than 1,000 kids across the East Bay are on a Piedmont Makers team this season, spread across all four levels:
Every one of those teams needs two adults willing to run it. Nearly 200 parents and mentors came through our August coach training for Explore and Challenge, most of them signing up to lead a program they had never seen before. LEGO League teams are already meeting at coaches’ houses, so the first robots of the season are going together on living room floors.
FIRST built the 2026-27 season around biodiversity. Each level gets its own challenge.
BIOGLOW is the LEGO League season, covering both Explore and Challenge teams. It takes kids into the rainforest to look at biodiversity and habitat recovery. Challenge teams pair the robot game with an Innovation Project, researching a problem they pick themselves and pitching a solution to judges.
BIOBUZZ, presented by RTX, is the FIRST Tech Challenge game. It opens with the season kickoff on September 12.
BIOCORE, presented by Haas, is the FIRST Robotics Competition game. It releases January 9, 2027, when Highlander Robotics 8033 starts build season.
Explore and Challenge teams meet through the fall and finish in December, at the LEGO League Explore Festival and the Community Tournament. FTC league meets start in November. Every date is on the calendar.
We can still use help this season, whether that’s mentoring a team or working a tournament. Email hello@piedmontmakers.org and we’ll find you something.