4-H Robotics – Team #18689 The 4-H Gear Grinders
Grades 8th – 12th.
Youth in this 4-H club for senior high (grades 8th-12th) design, build, and program a robot for competitions. Potential new club members in grades 8th through 12th are welcome to attend a meeting in August or September to find out more about this club. The next meeting is August 27, 2026 at 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The Robotics Club meets most weeks on Thursday evenings, as well as on two Saturdays each month, during the fall and early spring at the Extension Office in Chattanooga. The robotics team competes in FIRST Tech Challenge/FTC robotics competitions. Volunteer coaches and mentors from the community help youth through the process of designing, programming, and building a robot to compete in the year’s FTC game.
There is an annual registration fee ($100) for this club, payable by September 5, to help pay for robotics supplies. Club members also need to turn in a completed 4-H medical form (600A) to the Extension office.
The 4-H Gear Grinders are a competitive FIRST
Tech Challenge (FTC) team. Email HamiltonCounty4H@tennessee.edu with questions. Find out more about FTC at https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc.
4-H STEM Club
Grades 4th – 8th.
Youth in the 4-H STEM club learn robotics using Sphero robots. The group meets one Monday per month during the school year at the Extension Office in Chattanooga. The first meeting for the 2026-2027 school year is Monday, September 14. To participate in STEM Club, join 4-H, turn in a completed 4-H medical form (600A) and pay the $40 STEM club fee.
- 4th and 5th grade STEM Club members (up to age 11 as of 8/31/26) participate in the Sphero Bolt Missions competition program in teams of 2 to 5 students each. Meetings are held once a month at 5:00-6:00 p.m. Parent mentors supervise the teams as they work through course obstacles and learn block coding. Cost is $40 per student for the year.
- 6th through 8th grade STEM Club members build and launch model rockets and learn coding and robotics. Meetings are held at 6:30-7:30 p.m. Cost is $40 per student for the year.
For more information, sign up for the monthly 4-H email newsletter or email HamiltonCounty4H@tennessee.edu. The Hamilton County Extension Office is centrally located, at 6183 Adamson Circle in Chattanooga. Parking and entrance are in back of the building.