October is a big month for Arkansas’ more than 120,000 4-H members, according the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Not only is it National 4-H month, but also it’s the Arkansas 4-H Month of Service and encompasses 4-H National Youth Science Day Wednesday, Oct. 5.
“4-H is one of the nation’s best known youth development programs,” Priscella Thomas-Scott, 4-H events coordinator for the U of A System Division of Agriculture, said in a news release. “Whether the 4-H member participates through a school program or an after-school club, the aim is the same: learning by doing.”
That learn-by-doing philosophy takes many forms, she said.
“4-H can help Arkansas’ young people become more engaged in science and technology, and learn life and workforce skills such as public speaking or welding,” Thomas-Scott said. “National studies have shown that 4-H members are more likely to enroll in college and be better positioned to be contributing citizens.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
In Arkansas, the Month of Service was implemented in 2014 as an opportunity for 4-H members to give back to their communities. Projects included cleanups of natural areas and collecting and donating goods for food pantries across Arkansas.
Drone Discovery
Each year’s Science Day project is geared toward getting youth to develop solutions to real world problems. This engineering challenge centers on unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. Youth will learn everything from in-flight dynamics, aircraft types, flight safety and regulations, remote sensing and flight control.
Youth will conduct the experiment at hundreds of local events taking place in all 50 states, and in countries around the world. National 4‑H Council will host the flagship national event, with hundreds of youth participating in the challenge Oct. 5 in Washington, D.C. The national sponsors of 2016 4‑H NYSD are HughesNet®, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Cellular.
“What’s so exciting about 4‑H NYSD is that it’s a hands-on, interactive learning experience that uses cutting-edge topics from the real world to get youth excited about science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of the National 4‑H Council. “For many kids, this experiential approach to learning ignites an interest in STEM topics that can quickly grow into a passion. Facilitating this progression—from interest to sustained passion—is what 4‑H STEM is all about.”
What 4-H can do
As a youth development program, 4-H is effective. Research over a 10-year period found that 4-H members are nearly four times more likely to make contributions to their community, twice as likely to be active in the community and twice as likely to make healthier choices. Girls who are 4-H members are two to three times more likely to take part in high school science programs.
To learn more about 4-H contact the county extension office.