Number of resources found: 4

4-H Summer Science Camp at Oregon State University
Language: English
Author: Bourdeau, Virginia
Publisher: Oregon State University Extension 4-H (7/14/08)
Description: The Oregon State University Department of 4-H Youth Development partnered with the Science Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE) program, and the Colleges of Engineering and Science to deliver a two-week resident science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) camp on the OSU campus. Sixty middle school campers, entering grades 6-8, from diverse ethnic and geographic backgrounds were selected from 500 applicants. An $80,000 grant from the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Foundation provided full scholarships to the campers. The camp included thirty hours of classroom and field activities with pre-service teachers, ten hours of mechanical and chemical engineering, and field trips to science centers, the beach, a research forest and the local watershed. With guidance from their teacher/mentors, campers worked in teams to select a research question, carry out a scientific investigation and analyze the results. Each camper produced a poster on their contribution to the team. Each team provided an oral summary of their research accompanied by PowerPoint slides to over 200 parents, faculty and guests at the closing program. Through participation in the Summer Science Camp- 4-H Mission 2007, campers increased their abilities to use science process skills and their connection domain on a positive youth development scale.
More

The Union County 4-H Summer Science Program
Language: English
Author: Nichnadowicz, James
Publisher: Rutgers Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension of Union County, New Jersey (11/22/06)
Description: The 4-H Summer Science Program is unique in many ways. First, it is a 4-H program that is not volunteer-based. Secondly, this program was the first of its kind in Union County to bring science into day camps located in the low-income parts of the county. While science is a field of study in all of the county's grammar schools, it had rarely been offered at a professional level through the low-income summer day camps. Lastly, this program was implemented with several groups that had not previously collaborated with 4-H. The Union County 4-H Summer Science Program is partially based on the 4-H S.E.R.I.E.S. program as developed by Dr. Richard Ponzio. The goal of this program is to increase low-income students' interest in science. The target audience for this program is 300 low-income youth in grades 1 to 6 residing in the Union County, NJ, from the communities of Plainfield, Elizabeth and the eastern section of Rahway. 4-H hires and trains instructors for the program. The majority of the instructors have been experienced grammar school teachers with an interest in science. The program is supported by several non-profit groups that host the day camp sites.
More

Young Heroes: Military Deployment through the Eyes of Youth
Language: English
Author: Lyons, Rachel
Publisher: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County, New Jersey (6/15/09)
Description: Realities of the “war on terror” have contributed to a major change in the culture of the United States military. Deployment of National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers has become a routine expectation. As a result, many youth and families have been confronted with challenges they did not anticipate. Through a United States Army and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant funded initiative titled New Jersey Operation: Military Kids (NJ OMK), 4-H staff organized a youth/adult partnership to address this issue. Teens assumed a leading role in planning and implementing this project they titled, Young Heroes. The purpose was to raise community awareness of the issues faced by youth whose parents are deployed. Youth and adults worked together on the NJ OMK team to produce a video along with a discussion guide. The video features youth describing their personal experiences during deployed. Teens and adults delivered 40 public presentations reaching more than 1,000 participants. The network of team participants expanded to include more than 50 community leaders, military service representatives, family support personnel, and school officials. 4-H staff provided consistent leadership, training, and accountability over the course of three years.
More

Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program
Language: English
Author: Tassin, Mark
Publisher: Louisiana State University (3/10/09 Revised 2/2011)
Description: Louisiana contains approximately 40% of the nation's wetlands in the contiguous United States, but accounts for over 80% of the total national wetland loss. Continued wetland loss in Louisiana will result in severe ecological and economic ramifications for the entire nation. Therefore, the need for individuals willing to make significant contributions to help control wetland loss and create sustainability of Louisiana wetlands is immense. The Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program is a statewide program consisting of environmental education lessons and hands-on activities, designed to heighten the awareness of Louisiana's youth to the unprecedented problem of wetland loss. Program materials, including structured lesson plans, supplies, and step-by-step procedures to activities, are provided for educators to implement throughout the academic year. During the summer months, students are encouraged to attend four summer camps associated with the program and participate in wetland restoration efforts. The program promotes awareness, ownership, and empowerment in youth by immersing students in a concentrated curriculum of wetland related environmental studies. The Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program provides youth with direct experience and increased knowledge of environmental action skills, to instill in students that they can make a meaningful contribution to preserving, conserving, and restoring Louisiana's wetlands.
More