Jackson County 4-H Train-the-Trainer Workshop – “Deploying SeaPerch Underwater Robotics”

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“You can do it Miss Angel”! Words of encouragement from 4-H member, Cam Willett as 4-H Agent Angel Granger learns how to solder using a Simon Sez teaching kit.

The new Jackson County 4-H SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Program, sponsored by a grant from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and enhancements from a grant through Lockheed Martin is off to a “swimmingly” good start!

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Welcome to Mr. Tony Walker, the 4-H Organizational Leader for SeaPerch Robotics, and to Mrs. Betsy Willett, who is volunteering with the SeaPerch Robotics 4-H Club. Also pictured is “Nemo”, the SeaPerch ROV they built together! Both volunteers completed the 2-day 4-H Train-the Trainer Workshop, “Deploying SeaPerch Underwater Robotics”, hosted by Jackson County 4-H Agent Angel Granger and taught by Holmes County 4-H Agent Niki Crawson.

Jackson County 4-H hosted a 2-day Train-the-Trainer Workshop, “Deploying SeaPerch Underwater Robotics”, on May 23 and 24, 2014, at the UF/IFAS Jackson County Extension Office. The workshop was hosted by Jackson County 4-H Agent, Angel Granger and taught by Holmes County 4-H Agent, Niki Crawson.

This two day training event, held at the UF/IFAS Jackson County Extension Office on Pennsylvania Avenue, introduced the volunteers to the SeaPerch ROV (remotely operated vehicle), from the, “pvc pipe up”! The volunteers constructed their ROV’s, soldered the circuit boards, built the motors, and installed the remote controls. Once completed, they were ready to “swim their ROV’s”, in a SeaPerch Challenge!”

You may be wondering how the ROV’s could “swim” at the Extension Office! Well, thanks to Chief Scott Birge of the Jackson County Fire and Rescue Department, and his team, we had a spare dump tank to use! They brought the tank out and set it up. All we had to do was fill it up!

Jackson County 4-H would like to thank Bay State Cable Ties LLC, for the donation of a case of zip ties and Dr. Carla Hubbard, DVM, for sponsoring a SeaPerch kit. We especially thank Holmes County 4-H Agent Niki Crawson, for her time and training expertise!

With the award of the grant from the Office of Naval Research, enhancements from a grant from Lockheed Martin, and the donation from Dr. Hubbard, the Jackson County 4-H Program will be able to bring the exciting SeaPerch curriculum to 12 local youth to actively engage them through the process of hands-on learning while incorporating one of the nation’s primary focuses – STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), during a 3-day 4-H Day Camp, to be held on July 8, 9, and 10, 2014 at the UF/IFAS Jackson County Extension Office. These youth will also be able to continue with the SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Program through a 4-H Club that will begin in September, 2014. The club will be led by Mr. Tony Walker, a retired professional electrical engineer, and Mrs. Betsy Willett, who is an Administrative Assistant for the Panhandle Public Library Cooperative System.

In order to expand the program to additional Jackson County 4-H Youth, we are seeking monetary donations to purchase additional kits and other items such as pipe cutters, drills, and soldering irons. If you are interested in helping support this educational program, please contact Angel Granger, Jackson County 4-H Agent at (850) 482-9620 or email agranger@ufl.edu.

To learn more about the successful SeaPerch program sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, please view the website at http://www.seaperch.org. We are sure you will find the program exciting and a wonderful component to add to Jackson County 4-H!

 

See the video of the maiden voyage of “Nemo”, the Jackson County 4-H SeaPerch Underwater Robotics ROV at the Jackson County 4-H Facebook page!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted: May 31, 2014


Category: 4-H & Youth
Tags: SeaPerch Robotics, STEM


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