The JCPenney Afterschool Fund has partnered with National 4-H Council in a new focus on science, engineering and technology (SET). Nationally, 32 4-H teams received the 2009 JCPASF FIRST Robotics Team Mini-Grants.

These grants will help the 4-H groups build a robot and participate in a FIRST Tech Challenge or FIRST LEGO League (FLL) event. Receiving $1,000 grants for 10-member youth teams from New Hampshire are:

• Wapack Youth Robotics: The FIRST FLL Team is from the Wapack mountain range in southern New Hampshire. The Center for Positive Change in Peterborough is a collaborating partner with Hillsborough County 4-H Youth Development and the robotics team.
• Team SOCC LEGO League Robotics from Dover’s Seymour Osman Community Center is collaborating with Strafford County 4-H to engage middle school youth in new opportunities to experience science, engineering and technology.
• 4-H FIRST Robotics Team, an afterschool club at the Family School Connections program, is collaborating with Sullivan County 4-H to position FIRST Robotics as an extended learning opportunity for 9-14 year olds in the Claremont School District.