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!

We are thrilled to see so many families and youth interested in a LEGO Robotics program here in Oneida County! At this time, all Challenge Team spots have been filled. If you are interested in being added to the waitlist, please complete this Form: Waitlist Form

Funding and volunteer/staff support are the greatest barriers to providing this amazing educational experience. It costs around $2,500 to start a 4-H/FIRST LEGO League Challenge Team. If you know of a business or individual interested in sponsoring a Challenge Team, please let us know! We would love to expand this program so more young people can learn, grow, and explore together!

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
• 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26
• Monday, Sept. 2: No robotics
• 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. Friday, Oct. 4 (OPTIONAL)
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7
• Monday, Oct. 14: No robotics
• 3:30-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 (OPTIONAL)
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21
• 10:30-Noon Friday, Oct 25 (OPTIONAL)
• 3:30-5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28
• 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 (OPTIONAL)
• 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2: Regional Tournament in Appleton, WI (1st Choice)(2121 E Emmers Dr., Appleton, WI 54915)
• 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov 3: Regional Tournament in West Salem, WI (2nd Choice) (440 East Ave, West Salem, WI 54669)
• DATE CHANGE: 10 am.-Noon Saturday, Dec. 21: Oneida County 4-H Lego Robotics Team Festival at the Northwoods Center, Nicolet Area Technical College (the 2 “Explore” teams and the 1 “Challenge” team will come together to show each other what they created and learned (plus – team awards will be handed out!)
• REGIONAL COMPETITION: You can view a short video about what this experience will be like by clicking here. PLEASE NOTE: The regional competitions usually 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.
• 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. 🙂