4-H partners with Bill Nye to introduce students to science
Extension's 4-H Youth Development Program provides free "Mars Base Camp" science experiment kits for Nevada families
National 4-H Council
Youth from Extension, Washoe County's 4-H Fall Break Camp work together to code a digital Mars rover as part of the Mars Base Camp 4-H STEM Challenge activity Insight from Mars.
This fall, youth from across our state and the country will apply their knowledge, creativity and innovation in learning about STEM topics during the 13th annual 4-H STEM Challenge. Formerly known as 4-H National Youth Science Day, this year’s STEM Challenge, Mars Base Camp, will explore the theme of sending humans on a mission to Mars.
As young people, parents and educators continue to look for new and creative ways to stay engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 4-H STEM Challenge has adapted to ensure that young people everywhere, regardless of internet connectivity or family resources, have access to STEM Challenge kits which include online and offline activities.
National 4-H Council President Jennifer Sirangelo said, "For more than a decade, we’ve engaged young people in STEM opportunities through our 4-H STEM Challenge initiative because early exposure and access can lead to a brighter future. Today, our efforts are even more important due to the continued impact of the pandemic, digital divide and widening opportunity gap affecting young people."
To kick off this year’s 4-H STEM Challenge, Bill Nye, popularly known as the Science Guy and the CEO of The Planetary Society, will serve as the 4-H STEM Challenge Ambassador, encouraging millions of young people across the U.S. to explore STEM and hands-on learning opportunities, no matter the circumstances they face.
"I’m working to get people, especially students, excited about science and engineering. Science is how we have come to know nature. It’s how we’ve built the amazing technology we have today, and it’s how we feed 7.7 billion people," Nye said. "This year’s STEM Challenge will expose young people to fundamental ideas in science in hopes of encouraging a lifetime of exploration. I’m delighted to partner with 4-H and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders and decision-makers who will ultimately shape our future."
Extension's Nevada 4-H Director Carrie Stark said, "If your family is interested in completing the National 4-H STEM Challenge, contact your local Extension office for a kit. We also have videos about each component of the experiment that you can follow along with."