4-H Summer Camp Ignites STEM, Nutrition Interest in Local Youth

Editor's note: Marilyn Johnson, a 4-H parent, sent Enumclaw Patch the following press release.

During 4-H Summer Camp, several local youngsters discovered how the 4-H Youth Development Program uses activities that kids enjoy to absorb valuable lessons and explore potential careers.  

According to one parent, their child had so much fun they couldn’t stop talking about the 4-H camp experience. The elementary school age campers enjoyed the following hands-on learning activities lead by King County 4-H staff with teenage 4-H members:

• Interacted with technology in fun manners.  Campers built entertaining Lego robots with the King County 4-H robotics kits.   They also constructed 4-H EcoBots from the 2012 National 4-H Youth Science Day curriculum creating miniature robots to clean-up a simulated oil-spill.

• Became imagineers and practiced teamwork through Washington State 4-H Arts for Children's Enrichment (ACE) activities that were developed by WSU College of Liberal Arts faculty and funded by the Boeing Company.  Campers molded, cured and painted custom-fitting, plaster face masks.  Then, they used claymation and digital photography to produce two stop-action videos, “Sam-n-Ella” and “The Case of the Great Pumpkin Chase”. 

• Participated in a 4-H service learning project by assembling fleece blankets for Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital patients. The project was developed by Kaitlin, a 4-H member, who earned a  Harry Burcalow Endowment for Innovative Grant to fund the venture.

• Studied nutritional science through games, discussion and cooking healthy options under the 4-H Youth Advocates for Health (YA4-H!) project that engages teens to define, assess, and address health-related issues relevant to youth in their communities.

• Practiced various types of dining etiquette and explored Central American culture and El Salvador cuisine, which helps young people be more prepared for life in our global economy.

As each camper shared their projects with the others, they practiced presentation skills. Learning to give effective presentations is a key element throughout all 4-H projects and activities, which 4-H alumni consistently attribute to their higher-education and professional successes.