{"id":186459,"date":"2022-06-08T07:30:52","date_gmt":"2022-06-08T11:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=186459"},"modified":"2022-06-06T10:39:13","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T14:39:13","slug":"uconn-4-h-brings-high-tech-to-connecticut-youth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2022\/06\/uconn-4-h-brings-high-tech-to-connecticut-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"UConn 4-H Brings High Tech to Connecticut Youth"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you think about 4-H programs, robotics may not be the first thing that comes to mind.<\/p>\n

In existence for over 100 years, 4-H programs have historically introduced farming communities to new technologies or approaches through youth development. The “Head, Heart, Hands, and Health” embedded within its name have expanded in recent decades to include more programing in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, like robotics.<\/p>\n

Recently, several UConn 4-H robotics teams competed at the national level at the FIRST 2022 Championship and the VEX 2022 World Championship, both held in Texas.<\/p>\n

Reaching the national competitions is no easy feat, says Jennifer Cushman, UConn Extension<\/a> educator and co-program leader of UConn 4-H.<\/p>\n

“The annual robotics competition requires team members to work together to build and construct a robot over the course of eight weeks,” says Cushman. “These students not only gain invaluable skills for their futures, they get the opportunity to compete against teams from around the globe. It’s not your common image of what it means to participate in 4-H, but this is exactly the type of development we provide to youth.”<\/p>\n

UConn 4-H<\/a> launched their robotics program in 2006, when Al and Barbara Bishop from Bishops Orchards in Guilford provided a gift.\u00a0 The Bishops were UConn alumni and strongly believed STEM and 4-H go hand in hand.<\/p>\n

\"Athena\u2019s<\/a>
Athena\u2019s Warriors 4-H Team from Hartford, CT (Contributed photo)<\/div>
20220422_173718<\/div><\/div>\"4-H<\/a>
4-H Aces High Robotics Team at New England District Championship, West Springfield, MA (Contributed photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A view of the FIRST 2022 Competition challenge (Contributed photo)<\/div>
a shoot balls 4<\/div><\/div>\"Attendees<\/a>
Attendees visiting the Granby 4-H VEX Team booth (Contributed photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Members<\/a>
Members of the Operation PEACCE Robotics Team at the World Championship in Houston, TX (Contributed photo)<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn 4-H Volunteer meets with members of the Granby 4-H VEX Robotics (Contributed photo)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>