Winning smiles from Mile Creek School’s ‘Volcano Girls.’  From left to right, Dr. Anthony Davis, Anna Davis, Phoebe Lampos, Bridget Allan, Elsie Arafeh-Hudson, Whitney Barbour, Marielle Mather and Stamford Deputy Fire Marshal Thomas Brown.
Photo by K. Mather.

Old Lyme’s  “Fast-Fixin’ Volcano Girls” won the trophy for “Most Robust Design” at the Jr. FIRST Lego League Expo in Stamford on Feb. 9.

The all-girl team was sponsored by the Girl Scouts, and coached by Dr. Anthony Davis, with help from Diane Dennison.  Team members are Bridget Allan, Elsie Arafeh-Hudson, Whitney Barbour, Anna Davis, Phoebe Lampos and Marielle Mather.  All are third-graders at Mile Creek School.

Junior FIRST Lego League (Jr.FLL) is a science and engineering program for children aged 6-9, which aims to foster interest in science and technology.  Team members must work together to solve a challenge question through research and creation of a working, motorized Lego model and a poster to illustrate their ideas.

This year’s challenge was “Disaster Blaster.”  Teams were asked to choose a Natural Disaster, and use science, research, and technology to help prevent or mitigate its effects upon a community.

The Fast-Fixin’ Volcano Girls began meeting in November, chose their topic and team name, and designed a logo. After several weeks of research, they designed and built their Lego model, which featured several detailed buildings, water, and a mechanized volcano that spewed balls of lava.

Their design included a hazard prevention/mitigation wall with a moat and trenches to stop or cool down lava before it could reach the buildings.  The accompanying poster highlighted their research and the importance of early warning and evacuation in saving lives in a Volcano Zone.