LEGO & FLL Kit Donation Program
Bridging the Resource Gap through FIRST Parts Recycling
The LEGO & FLL Kit Donation Program is our first step in the FIRST Parts Recycling System. We collect, repair, and redistribute LEGO and FLL kits to under-resourced schools and community programs, turning unused parts into new STEM opportunities.
Project Overview
Bridge Type: Resource Gap | Major Program: FIRST Parts Recycling System (LEGO/FLL → FTC/FRC)
Many schools and community groups want to run STEM and FIRST programs, but lack the budget to purchase full LEGO or FLL kits. At the same time, other teams have boxes of unused parts left over from past seasons.
The LEGO & FLL Kit Donation Program connects these two sides. Students lead the full cycle: collecting unused parts, cleaning and repairing them, rebuilding complete kits, and delivering them to new communities along with simple lesson guides.
This project aligns with our mission to “Bridge the Gap” by making high-quality STEM materials accessible to underfunded schools through a sustainable, trackable, and replicable recycling workflow.
2025 LEGO & FLL Kit Donation Program
Implementation Window: Nov 1 – Dec 30, 2025
| Goal | Action | Deadline | Quantifiable Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Establish the Donation Program | Ask friends and families to donate LEGO parts; set up donation booths in schools and partner locations. | Ongoing | Set up at least 5 donation booths. Each team member collects at least 100 LEGO pieces by end of November and 200 pieces by end of December. |
| 2. Establish a Kit Recycling Workflow | Collect and refurbish donated parts; design and pack new LEGO kits independently. | Ongoing | Prepare at least 30 rebuilt kits ready for use at the November 29 event and at least 150 rebuilt kits for 2025. |
| 3. Distribute to Schools and Communities | Deliver kits through community events and school partnerships. | Dec 30, 2025 | Run at least 3 events, reach 5 communities & 6 schools, engage at least 150 participants, and help convert at least 30 into FIRST programs. |
All goals are tracked through a shared impact spreadsheet and event report forms, feeding into the STEM Bridge Hub Impact Dashboard.
Standardized Recycling Workflow
To make this project easy to replicate, we follow a clear eight-step workflow from collection to global sharing.
| Stage | Description | Assigned to |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Collection Point Setup | Set up LEGO donation booths in partner schools, the team base, RoboPlanet, and community locations. | Everyone |
| 2. Collection & Logging | Record each donation (quantity, condition, donor) using a shared Google Form and tracking sheet. | Data & Logistics sub-team |
| 3. Cleaning & Inspection | Sanitize parts (warm wash and dry), check for damage, and remove unusable pieces. | Quality & Safety sub-team |
| 4. Categorization | Sort parts by type (bricks, plates, wheels, gears, etc.) and label containers for easy packing. | Inventory sub-team |
| 5. Repackaging | Assemble complete kits, add simple manuals or build ideas, and seal in clearly labeled boxes. | Kit Design sub-team |
| 6. Educational Integration | Attach “Bridge the Gap” one-page lesson guides so teachers can start using the kits immediately. | Curriculum sub-team |
| 7. Distribution | Deliver kits through events, school visits, or mail. Capture photos, feedback, and estimated student reach. | Outreach sub-team |
| 8. International Awareness Platform | Upload photos, stories, and data to the STEM Bridge Hub and share highlights through RDFZ and partner media. | Media & Reporting sub-team |
This workflow becomes a reusable template that other FIRST teams can adapt for their own recycling projects.
2026 Sustainability Plan
From one-season project to a long-term recycling ecosystem.
| Aspect | Action Plan |
|---|---|
| Local Sustainability | Develop a digital LEGO Donation Booth Application Process that new team members can replicate at their schools. Maintain a tracking database recording the number of LEGO parts collected and kits created annually. |
| National Collaboration | Expand the recycling program through student leadership and cross-team partnerships, inviting FTC/FRC teams across provinces and states to join. |
| International Collaboration | Co-host an annual “Recycling Day” with RDFZ and other partners to promote global resource sharing and publish recycling data on the STEM Bridge Hub. |
In 2026 we also plan to expand beyond LEGO and FLL into an FTC/FRC hardware reuse plan, including motors, sensors, and aluminum structures.
Two-Year Plan & Multi-Level Impact
We plan the project over two seasons and three levels of impact: local, cross-country, and global.
| Year | Goal | Key Expansion |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 (Local Focus) | Establish a LEGO and FLL kit recycling loop across nearby schools. | Pilot program launched, at least 200 students reached. |
| 2026 (Cross-Country) | Expand to FTC/FRC teams across provinces and states. | Form a joint Recycling Alliance with at least 3 teams. |
| 2026 (Global) | Publish a global guide on sustainable robotics reuse. | Share “Sustainable Robotics Reuse” on the STEM Bridge Hub, promoted to at least 10 international teams. |
Three-Level Impact
- Local: LEGO donation drives and school redistribution to nearby communities.
- Cross-Country: Create a standardized recycling SOP and share it across FRC and FTC teams in Canada and the USA.
- Global: Invite FIRST Global and APAC teams to replicate the recycling model using our open-source guide and templates.
Replicability & Open Resources
This program is designed so any FIRST team can adopt and adapt it in their own region.
- Public Guide: A full written guide on how to run a LEGO & FLL recycling program, hosted on the STEM Bridge Hub.
- Templates: Donation booth posters, data tracking sheets, consent forms, and simple lesson one-pagers.
- Safety Checklist: Cleaning instructions, handling guidelines, and basic safety reminders for team members and schools.
- Multilingual Toolkit: Resources translated into English, Mandarin, and French to support wider adoption.
- License: All materials released under CC-BY so teams can remix and translate them while giving credit.
Teams who replicate the project are invited to share back their improvements and data, so the global recycling ecosystem keeps growing stronger each season.
Want to Run This Program with Us?
If you are a FIRST team, school, or community organization interested in LEGO donation and kit recycling, we would love to collaborate.
- Host a LEGO donation booth at your school or event
- Request rebuilt kits for your new STEM or FIRST program
- Translate or adapt our recycling toolkit for your country or region
- Share data and stories to be featured on the STEM Bridge Hub