Young Teens Develop Solution to Help Preserve History

By Olivia Barney

It’s been said that the rising generation controls the future, and if that’s true, we have every reason to feel optimistic. Many kids and teens explore innovative solutions to problems within their communities, while others participate in internships or after-school programs that equip them with real-world skills.  

Recently, a group of young engineers and coders visited NHMU with a specific goal in mind: helping archaeologists near and far. The kids, all between the ages of 9 and 14 years old, are part of an after-school robotics team called the Code Crusaders. 

The Code Crusaders after winning state.

The team was preparing to compete in the world’s largest STEM competition — the FIRST LEGO League (FLL). The league brings in hundreds of thousands of participants globally (650,000 during last year’s 2024-2025 season). And with so many other kids participating, the Code Crusaders knew that winning would take research, dedication, and creativity. 

Created as part of the LEGO Education program, the FIRST LEGO League introduces kids to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on experiences that build both skills and confidence. Each season, the FLL creates a new theme and prompt for teams to explore. This year, the theme is “Unearthed,” and competitors were instructed to find and solve a problem within the field of archaeology. 

Educating Explorers About Artifacts 

The Code Crusaders reached out to Shannon Boomgarden, Ph.D., an archaeologist at NHMU and the director of the Range Creek Field Station. Boomgarden met with the team virtually to explain some challenges that she sees within the field. She said, “I told them I thought the biggest problem was that people aren't getting the kind of education that we'd like them to about why they should leave artifacts where they're found on the ground.” 

Sometimes, hikers will find a piece of an artifact while out exploring and decide to take it home. Boomgarden clarifies that this is often done without any malicious intent, rather from “not understanding why every single artifact is important — to researchers and to preserving the site.” 

Other hikers know they shouldn’t take anything home, but they want to ensure future explorers see what they found. In these cases, they’ll relocate the item so it’s highly visible, creating something you’ll hear referred to as “looter piles.” 

In both cases, these important pieces of history get disturbed and displaced from their original context. This makes the job of an archaeologist far more difficult than it already is. 

A New Solution by the Code Crusaders 

After chatting with Boomgarden about this issue, the kids of the Code Crusaders got to work! They brainstormed pros and cons, experimented with ideas, and eventually landed on an app that rewards visitors for respecting the site. 

At its core, the app is relatively simple. If you encounter an artifact during your outdoor exploration, take a photo proving that you left it there. This photo is then sent to archaeologists, who will mail you a 3D replica of the item. It’s a clever concept. 

After developing the initial framework, the kids visited NHMU in person. They were taken back to the Archaeology Lab, where they were shown some of the artifacts held within the Museum. Then they presented their app through a presentation and clever skit. After a bit of refining feedback from the archaeology team (like not sharing artifact locations publicly), the Code Crusaders made a few changes and were off to compete for the crown.

They entered the regional Qualifier, taking home the metaphorical gold (in this case, the Champion’s Award, the FLL’s highest honor). This victory advanced them to the Utah State Championship event, where they once again won the Champion’s Award. 

These victories qualified them for the FLL World Championship, which takes place in Houston, Texas later this month. They’ll be competing against other champions from other states, as well as international teams competing in the event. If you want to cheer them on, consider donating to the team’s GoFundMe account, which raises funds to cover competition travel, accommodations, and materials. 

Regardless of how they place in the FLL World Championship, the Code Crusaders will continue working to make their app a reality. They’re currently applying for grant funding, which would further develop the app and offset the costs of 3D modeling — with an ultimate goal of making the app free and accessible to all. 

So yes, if this is how the next generation approaches scientific and technological innovation, we’ll be in good hands. Check out the video below to meet the team and then wish them luck as they compete for the FLL World Championship crown.