UMaine Extension 4-H Camps awarded grant for summer STEM program

University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Centers at Bryant Pond and Tanglewood were awarded a $10,000 sponsorship from HughesNet® to offer science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities this spring and summer.

As many as 300 youth in Maine will participate in the Sky’s the Limit program focusing on researching, designing and building solar-powered cars during their week at camp.

Four states — Maine, Florida, Illinois and Virginia — were selected to receive grants as part of the nationwide STEM at Camp initiative offered by HughesNet® and the National 4-H Council.

“The HughesNet® grant has allowed us to increase our depth in providing STEM lessons in new and exciting ways to young people,” says Ron Fournier, director of UMaine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond. “These lessons will have statewide impact once complete.”

National 4-H Council and HughesNet® are dedicated to sparking youth interest in STEM topics through hands-on, community-based STEM learning. In addition to STEM at Camp, HughesNet® works with the National 4-H Council to support other STEM initiatives, including the 4-H Youth In Action STEM Pillar award, National Engineering Week and National Youth Science Day, the world’s largest youth-led STEM challenge.

More information is available online or by contacting Fournier at 665.2068, ronald.fournier@maine.edu. More information about Maine 4-H also is online.