Education

4-H Makes Science Accessible For Kids

Posted: 12/8/2011

4-H youth test their science and engineering skills on 4-H National Youth Science Day.

(NAPSI)—Recently, 16-year-old Jessica Choi was engulfed in her teacher’s chemistry lesson. The lab was an introduction on chemical reactions in the environment. However, for Choi, the lesson was already familiar.

Choi had participated in the third annual 4-H National Youth Science Day (NYSD) with her Alameda County 4-H Program in California. The National Science Experiment, 4-H2O, introduced young people all around the nation to water quality issues related to carbon dioxide in the environment.

“The difference was that the experiment showed me that chemical reactions do really occur outside the laboratory and affect our world in drastic ways,” said Choi.

This fall, the National Science Experiment, Wired for Wind, will offer youth the chance to explore how to engineer renewable energy technologies by building wind turbines.

With plans to someday become a research physician, Choi is looking forward to participating in Wired for Wind. “I believe it is important for youth to participate in Science Day because it’s great exposure to how fun science really can be. In addition, not only is the experiment enjoyable, but it is also educational by focusing on a real-life problem that affects our environment.

“Throughout the eight years I have been in 4-H, I have seen so many members step up to their community’s challenges and positively impact those around them in amazing ways,” said Choi. “It is a privilege as well as a responsibility youth should claim.”

As part of 4-H’s One Million New Scientists, One Million New Ideas™ campaign, 4-H science programs such as 4-H NYSD work to spark an early youth interest in science education in an effort to combat a national shortage of young people pursuing science in college and future careers.

Science is often an overwhelming and consequently overlooked subject for young people, but 4-H NYSD makes science exciting, accessible, and relevant to their lives. Engaging youth in scientific exploration early on provides the necessary platform that they need to build a long-lasting interest in the field, and to make ongoing contributions to the sciences.

“Our nation is falling behind other countries in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math,” said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., National 4-H Council president and CEO. “Participation in 4-H NYSD offers youth, parents, volunteers and education professionals the opportunity to work together to connect youth with exciting, new areas of science and to get them interested in science in a more ongoing way.”

The 2011 4-H National Science Experiment—Wired for Wind—was developed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension program. Generous sponsor support has been provided by Toyota, Motorola, BAE Systems, Karo, the KidWind Project and the National Science Teachers Association. For more information on 4-H National Youth Science Day, please visit www.4-h.org/nysd.

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