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Outreach

at Gear It Forward

What is Outreach?

Outreach is one of the great opportunities available on the team. Outreach has an overall job to use our robotics skills to better the community and foster interest in STEM among future generations. We have many outreach initiatives detailed below!

Group of team members with Adaptive Toys in front of them on a table

Our Outreach Initiatives

C.H.U.C.K.

C.H.U.C.K.

Our Community Helping Utility Companion for Kickball is a device that we developed to increase equity in adaptive PE classes for students with limited mobility. It allows students to roll a ball down a ramp, launching it into play. Each CHUCK costs $500 to produce, but we have produced 9 and sent 6 to schools for FREE.

Adaptive Toys

Adaptive Toys

We adapt toys by soldering an easy-press button onto them to provide equity and inclusivity to students with limited mobility.

STEM Kits

STEM Kits

Our team supplies Hands-on Science STEM Kits to English Language Learner students at Title I Schools. Some of the schools we supply to are Boulder Hill and Long Beach Elementary Schools. Some of our STEM Kits include Lava Lamps, Inflating Balloon, and Catapult. If you are interested in sponsoring our efforts to provide hands-on science to young kids, please Contact Us or fill out this Google form.

Women In STEM

Women In STEM

We host monthly meetings, featuring guest speakers, to empower girls in FIRST throughout Illinois, while supporting them as they mentor and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.

Girl Scout Workshop

Girl Scout Workshop

We introduce local girl scouts, between grades 3-5, to STEM and FIRST Robotics by teaching skills such as using hand tools, power tools, driving the robot, and educating them about available FIRST LEGO League programs.

Winter STEM Camp

Winter STEM Camp

We introduce girls in grades 5-8 to STEM and FIRST LEGO League (FLL) by hosting this event at our shop and providing mentorship. At this event, they participate in various STEM activities like using power tools, hand tools, driving a robot, working on a circuit building project, and building & programming an FLL robot.

Open Gyms & STEM Nights

Open Gyms & STEM Nights

Our team visits other elementary and middle schools around the area with our CHUCK, Robot, STEM Kits, and Awards. By doing this, we inspire younger kids to pursue their interests in STEM fields.