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Eight teams from five different Kenai Peninsula schools competed in a robotics competition Saturday at Soldotna Elementary.

"It was a great atmosphere," said Sheryl Sotelo, coach of Homer's McNeil Canyon Elementary team. "It was an awesome day."

The LEGO Group and the nonprofit For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology join forces for the FIRST LEGO League. This robotics program is for kids ages 9 to 14.

Each year the league presents a different challenge, with this year's being the Climate Connections Challenge. The robotics meeting saw students compete in a variety of categories.

"Hopefully this will build some enthusiasm for other schools to get involved," Sotelo said.

Typically teams compete at the state tournament in Anchorage, but the icy weather conditions prevented peninsula teams from making the trip this year.

Sotelo, who has been involved in robotics for eight years at three different peninsula schools, said these competitions teach kids to work together and become better problem solvers.

"There's just a lot of facets of the whole experience that are really beneficial to kids," she said.

Engineering, math, science and technology are the major fields of study stressed. Sotelo said FIRST encourages students to pursue careers in those fields, which have had a shortage of employees over the years.

Teams worldwide compete each year under the same theme, usually a global issue that people experience all over the world, Sotelo said. Alaska has more than 200 teams statewide.

"I think these kids, when they get to be adults, will have a different frame of reference," Sotelo said. She said FIRST helps make kids more aware of global issues.

"It's kind of a natural hook," Sotelo said. "Kids are very excited about it."

Team registration opens this spring. Teams do not have to be school-affiliated. To register or for more information go to FIRST's Web site at www.usfirst.org.

"The best part is seeing how other kids solve the same challenges," Sotelo said. "My students had a great time."

Mike Nesper can be reached at mike.nesper@peninsulaclarion.com.