Author: Bruce Zimmer, Extension Educator, OSU Extension, Washington County

Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Engineering Adventure

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The Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Engineering Adventure (formerly known as Cloverbot Challenge) gives 4-H Cloverbuds the opportunity to work cooperatively in teams to problem-solve using STEM (science, engineering, technology and math) skills. A new theme is selected each year and teams research a topic, build a working model of their solution to the engineering issue and create a poster to illustrate their findings. Teams present their models and findings to a team of reviewers at one of the Showcase events, learn about other Cloverbuds’ projects, participate in age-appropriate STEM activities and are recognized at a closing celebration. Watch this short video to learn more about the Cloverbud Engineering Adventure: https://youtu.be/xrOrb3N37p0

The 2023 Challenge – Think backward or forward in time about something that interests the team. Design a model that includes moving parts or a simple machine. Your model could be a timeline, a time machine, a specific thing from a different time period (like a horse and buggy or futuristic vehicle). Here are the details! 2023 Cloverbud Engineering Adventure

Time travel has been a fascination for people over the years. Movies like Back to the Future or The Terminator have characters who travel through time. H. G. Wells 1895 novel, The Time Machine, made the idea of a time machine popular. The main characters in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure spend the movie learning about historical figures for a history report. Time travel has allowed characters in books and movies to interact with interesting people and events of the past or dream about the future. Exploring time travel is a great way for your Cloverbuds to connect with the past or imagine the future.

Choose the location for your team to attend a Showcase:

  • June 14 at 6:30 pm, Greene County Extension Office, Xenia
  • June 22 at 6:30 pm, Washington County Junior Fair Building, Marietta
  • June 24 at 10:00 am, Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, Columbus
  • June 27 at 7:00 pm, Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, Middleburg Heights
  • June 29 at 5:00 pm, Perry County Fairgrounds, New Lexington

Cloverbud Volunteers must register teams by Friday, April 14, 2023 at: http://go.osu.edu/2023cloverbudengineeringadventure