Oneida County 4-H partners with FIRST LEGO League to offer a 4-H/FLL “Challenge” team for students in grades 4–8 that encourages interest in real-world topics and helps students develop skills for future careers. Each year there is a new theme.

This team meets once or twice a week to have fun while working on these 3 areas:

1. ROBOT DESIGN & ROBOT GAME: The team works together to design a robot, and then use that robot to complete up to 15 missions in 2.5 minutes as part of a robot game. The team has an opportunity to participate in a regional competition towards the end of the season (usually held in Appleton, La Crosse, or Milwaukee). At the regional competition, the team has a chance to play 3 rounds of the robot game. The best score from the 3 rounds is counted.
2. INNOVATION PROJECT: The team is tasked to work together to identify and research a real-world problem. Team members are asked to reach out to people in their community or beyond to receive feedback on their solution, and use this feedback to improve their design. At the regional competition, the team has an opportunity to present to a panel of 3 judges about the work they did for their innovation project and answer questions.
3. CORE VALUES / PRESENTATION: Throughout the season, team members practice the core principles of teamwork, inclusion, impact, discovery, innovation, and having fun along the way! At the regional competition, the team presents to the judges how their team demonstrated these core values.

Funding and volunteer/staff support are the greatest barriers to providing this amazing educational experience. 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!

HOW ARE STUDENTS SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE ON A 4-H/FLL CHALLENGE TEAM?

Because this a high-interest program, and because 4-H currently has limited funding and resources (it was started in 2024), currently students are asked to sign up by completing a brief application, which is expected to be made available in June 2025. Students are typically selected based on their age, the date they submitted an application, and their readiness level. Teams are organized based on adult volunteer (team coach) support and funding (registration/technology equipment/materials). With 4-H Robotics, teams are kept small (between 3-8 students) intentionally to increase the amount of hands-on engagement for students. Participation fees are typically between $50-$100 per youth, with financial assistance available through 4-H for families in need. 4-H strives to keep participation fees as low as possible.

IS MY CHILD READY TO PARTICIPATE IN A 4-H/FIRST LEGO LEAGUE CHALLENGE TEAM?

While regular LEGO programs are fantastic for fostering creativity and imagination, a 4-H/FIRST LEGO League Challenge team provides a more structured, educational, and competitive environment that can be particularly beneficial for those interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Determining if a child is ready for for a 4-H/FLL Challenge Team involves assessing several factors related to their interest, skills, and focus. Here are some indicators to help you decide:

1. Collaboration: Can your child work well with others, share ideas, and contribute to group projects?
   Communication: Are they able to communicate their thoughts and listen to others effectively?
2. Critical Thinking: Does your child enjoy solving puzzles, tackling challenges, and thinking creatively to find solutions?
   Persistence: Is your child willing to try different approaches and not give up easily when faced with difficulties?
3. Concentration: Can your child stay focused on a task for an extended period, especially when working on complex projects?
   Task Completion: Does your child have the ability to follow through and complete tasks, even if they take time and effort?
4. Organization and Time Management: Is your child able to manage their time effectively, balancing schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and 4-H/FLL commitments?
   Responsibility: Is your child responsible and able to handle the additional workload that comes with participating in 4-H/FLL?
5. Parental Support: Does your child have the support and encouragement from parents or guardians to participate in 4-H/FLL?
6. Readiness for Competition: Does your child have a healthy competitive spirit and the ability to handle both wins and losses gracefully?
   Presentation Skills: Is your child comfortable presenting their projects and ideas in front of judges and peers?

If a child exhibits many of these traits and shows a strong interest in STEM and robotics, they are likely ready to participate in the FIRST LEGO League. It’s also important to remember that FLL is designed to be a learning experience, so even if a child is not fully prepared in all of these areas, they can still benefit and grow through participation.

If you know your child would do better with a less structured/free-play/free-build LEGO-building program, please check out all of amazing LEGO clubs our area libraries in Oneida County are offering!

The 2024 team was sponsored by the Oneida County 4-H Leaders’ Association and Printpack! Thank you for your support!!!

WHAT ELSE 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: Depending on funding, snacks are usually provided. However, it’s nice when parents can help contribute to snacks!
• 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. 🙂