[wendymom]

FLL is a drag and drop type of programming. I'm not an engineer, computer programmer or even a business type person. I'm just a mom and if I can mentor a FLL team anyone can. The kids are able to figure it out mostly on their own.....and they don't let me touch the robot since I tend to break it.

I would use the money to get a 3 or 4 of the NXT kits....250-300 bucks. Get a field kit from this year, 75 bucks and break up into teams of 6 or so. Let the kids get used to the program and they can play against each other.

By the start of season next year your only cost will be registration and a few new field kits. (you can get by with one but two would be better).

You would have all summer to learn the program yourself.

Getting them to work on the research project is fun if you handle it right.

My team got a bid to state with very little help from me.

Good Luck