National 4-H Week Highlights Youth in Science, Engineering and Technology
Contact: Contact: Lisa Phelps, 207-780-4205
ORONO, Me. — The University of Maine’s 4-H program is recognizing the activities of 4-H youth work in science, engineering, and technology (SET) programs during National 4-H Week, Oct. 7-13, 2007.
As part of University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s 4-H youth development program, Maine 4-H members are combining learning, discovery, and fun in 4-H science, engineering and technology programs. Activities range from robotics and digital media to geospatial technologies (GIS/GPS) and animal and environmental science, as well as citizenship and healthy living programs.
While on the Galapagos Islands this past June, Washington County 4-H’er Paul Jans was able to use what he’d learned at a 4-H GPS/GIS training he took in Trescott, Maine. “I used my skills for mapping the trails on the many islands we visited and boat routes we took and important tourist destination spots. Additionally, I taught other group members how to use a GPS, along with coordinating mapping details with the paper maps.” The information will be used to develop a website about tourism in the Galapagos Islands.
UMaine Extension Educator Lisa Phelps noted that a participant at a recent 4-H GIS camp indicated that they can now use these new technologies to do community service projects.
“In Maine the 4-H SET programs have allowed us to share new career possibilities with youth and teach them valuable life skills,” she says.
For more than 100 years, 4-H programs have been providing youth with the innovative research and resources from land-grant universities such as the University of Maine. Currently, more than 5 million 4-H youth members participate in 4-H SET programs nationwide.
To learn how to become a 4-H member or volunteer leader in Maine, contact Lisa Phelps, Extension Educator at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, at 1-800-287-1471 or lphelps@umext.maine.edu. Learn more about the 4-H adventure at www.4HUSA.org.
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For more than 90 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine’s land-grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county.