Art Treiman wants this robotics club to stick.
The Cherry Hill father had seen his share of disbanded area clubs and recently took to the Camden County Environmental Center to lead the Science Explorers 4-H Club.
“If it’s not there, you build it,” Treiman said.
About a dozen kids, from fourth- to eighth-grade turned out, grinding their brain gears and learning how to program a robot.
“The main goal of all 4-H clubs is to create positive learning experiences for youth in a fun, hands-on way,” Sharon Kinsey, Camden County’s 4-H agent, said. “For this club, their goal is to provide educational experiences in science and engineering that peak students’ interests in these areas, allow them to enjoy working with other youth who have similar interests and learn about career opportunities.”
“This club also expects to get involved in competitive robotics competitions in the future,” Kinsey said.
While the 4-H year runs from September to August, she said, youngsters interested in learning about robotics are being accepted for club membership.
Alex Bachman, 9, of Cherry Hill, has spent the majority of his life passionate about robots.
“I really love Legos,” he said.
Alex’s favorite part of the process is building, he said.
Treiman’s son, Seth, recruited five friends to the club.
According to Treiman, Seth isn’t involved in athletics like his sisters.
In fact, he said, “my son is the complete opposite.”
The benefits of sports, however, can be parlayed into the science world, he said, including working together to achieve a common goal.
“4-H is an organization that offers something for all types and kinds of youth and adults as volunteers,” Kinsey said. “In this club, there will be quite a bit of teamwork as they members learn to build, program and problem solve robotics engineering projects and activities. Members should expect to learn from one another, work with others to accomplish these goals and have fun.”
Current meeting dates, according to a release, include March 14, April 4, April 17, April 25, May 1, May 23, May 30, June 6 and June 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the environmental center, 1301 Park Boulevard, Cherry Hill.
“We had had robots from a previous grant program that we are making available to the club,” Kinsey said. “We are looking forward to Art’s contributions as a 4-H leader and volunteer. His enthusiasm for starting the club has been the impetus for getting it off the ground so quickly.”
Treiman’s hope is for a successful club, filled with fun, which will garner high membership over time.
“It’s a matter of getting enthusiastic volunteer parents,” he said.
Plus, he said, the goal is to grab the interest of the kids.
He sees the hardest part of the club as a matter of getting rooted.
“Once it’s there, if it’s done well, folks will naturally come to it, I think,” he said. “We’re still at the beginning.”
At the first meeting, he was ready to lead the students, with robot parts abounding, computers open and ready to program and a sample track to boot.
Over time, the group will work through different projects, do community outreach and maybe even take some science-related field trips.
“They can literally make autonomous robots,” he said.
Along with garnering essential problem solving skills, kids will be able to socialize and make friends, “just like being on any other team,” he said.
“I hope it’ll be a whole lot of fun,” Treiman said.
For more details on the budding club, email Sharon Kinsey at Kinsey@aesop.rutgers.edu or Art Treiman at arthurtreiman@comcast.net.
