Four Maryland 4-H teams from Allegany, Charles, and Garrett counties gathered at the Howard County Fairgrounds on Aug. 18 for the 2026 Maryland 4-H ROV Challenge, themed “An Underwater Adventure.” The day-long event brought together youth, families, volunteers, and supporters for a celebration of learning, engineering, and teamwork.
Organized under the leadership of Willie Lantz, Phil Malone and Karen Wood, the state event was made possible through the dedicated efforts of volunteers and educators, including Karen Taylor, Harford County 4-H; Annalise Kenney, Maryland Sea Grant; Arlene Lantz, and Lisa Malone, Garrett County 4-H. The ROV kit and the Challenge missions were created and developed by Phil Malone.
Throughout the event, participants demonstrated their skills in underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) design, construction, and operation. Friends and family gathered around the pool to watch practice sessions and two rounds of competition featuring 6 missions, creating an atmosphere of excitement and encouragement.
The ROV Missions involved:
Task 1: Seed the Lease- Deliver oyster shells to a basket.
Task 2: Read Sensors- Visit three sensors and touch the top with magnet.
Task 3: Release Buoy-Release a floating buoy to mark the oyster lease.
Task 4: Harvest Oysters- Collect bingo chips off the bottom and return to the farmer.
Task 5: Harvest Oysters- Collect dive rings and place them into the transport container.
Task 6: Park the ROV- Maneuver the ROV into the oyster container.
In addition to the in-water competition, teams also participated in a research proposal presentation. During this portion of the challenge, youth shared what they had learned throughout the project, highlighting both their technical knowledge and their problem-solving experiences.
The event honored several standout performances, including:
· Research Proposal Award Champion: Allegany County Rocky Gap ROVers
· Research Proposal Award Runner-Up: Garrett County Clam Slam Team
· Mission Award Champion: Charles County 4-H
· Mission Award Runner-Up: Garrett County Team Platypus
· Creative Design Award (Special Recognition): Charles County 4-H
The Maryland 4-H ROV Challenge gives young people the opportunity to build hands-on STEM skills while developing confidence, communication, and collaboration. Events like this help youth connect 4-H learning with real-world applications in engineering, marine science, and research.
This program is part of University of Maryland Extension Smart Sustainable Shellfish Aquaculture Management (S3AM) program. S3AM is a nationwide, multi-institutional, USDA-funded project that uses smart technology to increase farming efficiency, economic viability, and environmental sustainability in oyster aquaculture.
Maryland 4-H congratulates all participants, coaches, volunteers, and families who helped make the 2026 4-H ROV Challenge a success.