Oneida County 4-H is partnering with FIRST LEGO League to offer a “Challenge” team, a 4-H STEM program for students in grades 4–8 that encourages interest in real-world topics and helps students develop skills for future careers. This year’s theme is: SUBMERGED! The ocean is home to our planet’s most complex ecosystems, and this year’s materials will help team members explore the layers of the ocean and bring their learnings and ideas to the surface.

Join our team in 2024! We will meet regularly in a safe, inclusive space to have fun while accomplishing these 3 tasks:

1. ROBOT GAME: Our team will be working to complete as many missions as possible as part of a robot game challenge related to this year’s theme: SUBMERGED.
2. INNOVATION PROJECT: Our team will identify and research a problem in our own community to solve! Check out this year’s Innovation Project theme!
3. CORE VALUES / PRESENTATION: Our team will create a poster and give a presentation at a regional competition about their robot design, innovation project, and how their team demonstrated the core principles of teamwork, inclusion, impact, discovery, innovation, as well as how they had fun as team!

If you are interested in participating, please complete this Interest Form: Interest Form

REGISTRATION CLOSES ON SUNDAY, AUG. 11. Space is very limited on the team, so let us know early if you are interested!

Cost: $40/youth participant.

SCHEDULE:

*All practices will take place at the Northwoods Center at Nicolet Area Technical College.

• 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19. Family orientation session plus pizza party; Start building the robot table.
• 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26. Finish building the table; Come up with a team name; Design team T-shirt.
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday Sept. 9.
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday Nov. 4
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11
• REGIONAL COMPETITION: Regional competitions are typically held mid-Nov. through mid-December. The team leader will let participants know by the end of October when the regional competition will be and where it will be held. Usually regional competitions are held in Appleton, Milwaukee, or Marquette (MI). You can view a short video about what this experience will be like by clicking here. PLEASE NOTE: The regional competitions usually are held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and there are times when it can be a loud environment with teams cheering each other on, as participants receive points for encouraging each other on. Participants are allowed to wear ear protection if they would like to. Please let your team leader know if your child would be in need of any accommodations.
• LOCAL END-OF-THE-SEASON CELEBRATION: 10 a.m.-Noon Saturday, Dec. 14: Oneida County 4-H LEGO Robotics Festival! To be held at the Northwoods Center at Nicolet Area Technical College. This is a time when Oneida County 4-H’s two 4-H LEGO Robotics “Explore” teams and our “Challenge” team will come together to present their team models with family, friends, and community guests, share about what they learned, and celebrate a job well done!!! Team awards will also be handed out!
• Summer 2025 Robotics Camp: This team will have an opportunity to gain leadership skills by helping lead an Oneida County 4-H LEGO Robotics day camp during the summer of 2025 (9 a.m.-2 p.m. Mon.-Thurs. for one week in August 2025). Team members will have a unique opportunity to help local children entering grades 1-4 find a spark in STEM! The team will have an opportunity to also help lead fun games, prepare a snack, and of course – explore the world of LEGO robotics!

This team is sponsored by the Oneida County 4-H Leaders’ Association and Printpack! Thank you for your support!!!

What should parents know?

• TRANSPORTATION: Bus transportation is not provided to events. Students will need to ride with a parent/guardian or carpool with a teammate to events.
• ATTENDANCE: Team gatherings are required, and all absences must be excused by a parent/guardian.
• BEHAVIOR: We ask that participants do their best when at 4-H LEGO Robotics Challenge meetings and be a good team member. Participants must follow Wisconsin 4-H’s behavior policies. If a student needs to be removed from the team for not following these policies, the registration fee will not be refunded.
• FAMILY SUPPORT: We ask that parents and family members understand what an important role the family members play to the success of this team and ask that all family members support their son/daughter throughout the season.
• SNACKS: We ask that parents/guardians help supply the team with snacks for at least one team gathering. Thank you in advance for this help!
• THANK YOU TO THE ONEIDA COUNTY 4-H LEADERS’ ASSOCIATION AND PRINTPACK: This opportunity is made possible because of the generous support of the Oneida County 4-H Leaders’ Association and Printpack. The true cost of starting a first-time 4-H/FIRST LEGO League “Challenge” team is nearly $2,600 (each participant would have had to pay around $370!!!) Thanks to the caring youth and adults who volunteer their time on the Leaders’ Association, and to our generous sponsor: Printpack, this opportunity is made possible and is affordable for families! In return, we ask that all participants who sign up take this opportunity seriously and commit to participating.
• PRACTICING COMMUNICATION SKILLS: At a regional competition, the teams will give a short presentation. They will be judged. Of course, we want to try our best and practice but know our team is focused more on the students’ overall experience and journey as a person and as a team than about their placement at the regional competition. 🙂