SLV 4-H Robotics open houses scheduled

VALLEY — Families with youth interested in participating in the San Luis Valley 4-H Youth Robotics program are invited to attend one of the upcoming informational open house events. These free events will be held from 5-7 pm on Monday, September 25 at the SLV Area Extension Office in Monte Vista, and on Thursday, October 5 at HobbyTown in Alamosa. All Valley youth ages 8 to 18 are invited to participate, and parents are also encouraged to attend with their children.

“This Open House is an opportunity for families to find out what the SLV 4-H Robotics program is all about,” said Amy Henschen, program director and extension agent with CSU  Extension. “The program is a chance for youth to have fun with Lego robots, all while learning valuable life skills like teamwork, communication, and problem solving.”

SLV 4-H Robotics is a team robotics program in which kids learn about robotics and programming by completing hands-on challenges using Lego Mindstorms EV3 robotics kits. Teams of two to four youth meet monthly throughout the year to build, program, and prepare for state and national robotics competitions, including RoboRAVE Colorado and the state 4-H Robotics Challenge. Group field trips and local and regional competitions help provide additional enrichment for team members. The 2017-18 season begins in November and runs through the summer.

At the SLV 4-H Robotics Open Houses families can drop in to meet program staff and try their hand at building and programming. Parents can get information from the program director about the structure of the program, as well as costs and participant expectations. Adults can also learn about serving as volunteer coaches. Families can drop in to either open house anytime between 5 and 6:30 p.m. The events are free and no registration is required, but RSVPs are appreciated. To register or get more information, email [email protected] or call 719-852-7381.

The San Luis Valley Area Extension Office, host of the September 25 event, is located at 1899 E. Hwy 160 in Monte Vista. HobbyTown, host of the October 5 Open House, is located at 3211 Main Street in Alamosa. For more information on the 4-H robotics program, visit the San Luis Valley 4-H website at http://tinyurl.com/slvrobotics. 4-H is a cooperative effort between Colorado State University Extension and Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache counties. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.