4-H SET...set on inspiring youth to excel in science


Nationally 4-H is aiming to prepare 1 million new youth in the next five years to excel in science and technology by exposing those youth to 6 or more hours each of 4-H science activities.

In NYS we are working to reach 100 new youth per county per year with 6 hours or more of inquiry based science activities.

Below are program examples of how 4-H programs are training and inspiring the next generation of scientists...

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Wind Power programming - using model wind generators to create measureable
voltage. Youth were challenged to change blade shape and angle to create
the most efficient wind power. Ages: 8 and over.

Geospatial Science - teach youth the basic functions of GPS, such as
measuring longitude and latitude, trip odometer, and relative location of
sattelites in the sky. Basic waypoint location or development is
included.

This sixth grade program is supplemented by geocaching activities held on
a monthly basis. Ages: vary dependent on program.
Earth Day/Arbor Day - using basic curriculum focused on second grades,
over 450 youth participated in programs related to forestry, conservation,
and ecology. Ages: 8-9.

Aerospace/rocketry club: members have developed windtunnels to test
aerodynamics and build and launched their own rockets. Ages: 9 ond over

Birds and Bees

4-H youth and adults discovered that both birds and bees fly! Essex County learned that both insect and bird have wings. These creatures lead remarkably different lives. And both are under fire from environmental pressures.

At this county wide event held in April at BEN WEVER FARM in Willsboro, 4-H’ers hived Honeybees into their new community home called supers. As the colony of bees increase additional supers will be placed onto top of one another. The yard were many hives of many hives of bees are kept by the beekeeper is called the apiary. The uses of honey, pollen and beeswax were explored, beeswax lip balm was made. The youth also enjoyed a meal of honey BBQ beef, spring vegetable pollinated by honeybees, honey cake and honeyed lemonade.

The next winged creatures, 4-H’ers studied were NY state’s Eastern Bluebird. We learned about various problems they can experience within their habitat. 4-H’ers completed a wood working project by building birdhouse for the Bluebirds at the CCE in Westport. 4-Her’s learned how to construct a bluebird trail and how to monitor its success.

TECH CHALLENGE 09

CCE Essex County. What do you get when you add, an active Volcano, sensing equipment, and 4 teens? It must be Essex County’s 4-H Busy Bees. This club is fearless and will try anything in the name of science, engineering and technology! And when they combine all 3 components- watch out!

For the second year in a row, this team has entered the Tech Challenge by using a poly conference system to compete against teams in California and Nevada. Tech Challenge is a Silicon Valley –based program, “designed to get at the heart of innovation, where young people can develop creative solutions in familiar settings.”

This year under the supervision of Matt Cauthorn, Michaela Courson, Josh Bassler, Jesse Misarski, Caleb Cauthorn devised a system sending helium-filled balloons in the shape of penguins, ping pong balls as analytical sensing devices and other aerostats into the heart of a 10 foot simulated active volcano. Due to their perseverance, tenacity and quest for knowledge, the team has received a grant to attend the NYS / NE SET Youth and Adult Forum held at the Center at the University of New Hampshire.

Careers In The Equine Industry Camp 2008

CCE Ontario County. Careers In The Equine Industry Camp 2008. A program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County, 480 N. Main Street Canandaigua, New York 14424. Supervised by Amy Morrisey, 4-H Animal Science Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County, phone 585-394-3977 x 429, fax 585-394-0377 alm72@cornell.edu

The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund and Cargill Animal Feed and Nutrition sponsored this program.

The program focused the exploration of careers and skills in the Equine Industry in a total immersion experience. Conducted from Friday evening, June 6th through Sunday afternoon, June 8th, 2008, with participants sleeping at 4-H Camp Bristol Hills, Kear Road, Canandaigua, participants met with over twenty individuals who represented a variety of jobs and careers in the equine industry. Speakers at the camp included a Finger Lakes Race Track Veterinarian, Morrisville College Admissions Director, and a veterinarian assistant with New York State Ag.and Markets who is also a National Certified Horse Show Judge, and a certified NARHA riding instructor who is also the Mendon EquiCenter barn manager. The eight youth participants, all teenagers, were selected from five counties in New York State.

In addition to speakers, participants toured three farms: Sugar Hill Arabian Farm, which has a foaling barn as well as a training and show barn , Cheshire Ridge, a thoroughbred-breeding farm, and a Standard Bred Farm.
Tours also included the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Center with presentations by an Equine Dental Technician, a Certified Animal Acupressure Practitioner and Instructor, and a Certified Equine Myotherapist as well as a demonstration by an Equine Behavioral Training Clinician.
A tour given by the licensed veterinarian technician specializing in surgical anesthesia at the Ledgewood Equine Ambulatory and Surgical Hospital was another educational experience.
Collaborating on the program were Patricia Pavelsky, Executive Director, Ontario County Cornell Cooperative Extension; Tim Davis, 4-H Issue Leader,
Amy Morrisey, 4-H Animal Science Educator, Jeannie Griffiths, Horse Specialist at Cornell University; Kerri Gaffney barn manger at the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Center, Sara Drennen of Equi Center, and Wendi Schenkel of Cheshire Ridge, with additional input from the regional 4-H horse members.

The most significant impact of the program was that it provided a group of youth who love horses with the opportunity to meet and talk with an array of professionals in the horse industry: farm owners, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, horse therapist and race track personnel as well as a college admission director on a person to person basis. The participants learned about the elements of the professionals’ various workdays and that stimulated discussion and thought on the future economic impact of their career choices. Farm owners and professionals were very candid about the time involved and cost required for their career choice. They also shared information on their incomes and the lifestyles they were afforded, in return for their efforts. Participants learned that there is a vast difference in income and lifestyles between an outrider at the track and a veterinarian, as well as in the educational cost and time commitment involved. The common thread among the professionals who volunteered their time was their universal love of horses and the lifetime investment they have made in the equine world.

At the evaluation session, the entire group responded that the camp was educational and one of the best and most diverse experiences they ever had. The Ropes Course at camp was very challenging, but all agreed it helped with the interaction of the group. All expressed nervousness about not knowing anyone before coming to camp. All felt the friendships they made enhanced their good time. The information they received was very useful. Countless questions were answered.

The immediate value of the program can be measured in the smiles and enthusiasm of the participants. The long-range value of the program can be measured in the positive impact on young lives as they grow their knowledge about themselves and their goals.
The knowledge these young people gained will have a ripple effect as they take this knowledge and experience back to their regions and share it with others, thus enhancing the significance of the program.

Comments written by the participants summarizing their experiences. Quotes from those articles tell the story of the camp best.
· This weekend taught me to how important it is to always keep learning, even after you are a farm- owner and have everything you must still keep reading and learning.
· This was an awesome experience, and I will remember all that I have learned for a long time and put the information to use.
· I am grateful that I got the chance to go on this weekend. I got lots of information and a chance to meet new friends and people. I recommend this to anyone interested in horses. I have already used some of the advice that was given on my own horse at home.
· The visit at the equine surgery hospital was incredible!! We got to see the operating rooms and recover rooms and surgerical tools and it was cool!!
· The whole weekend was terrific. It was great to talk to and learn from successful people.
· I never knew there were so many different careers you could work at with horses.
· I never realize you can get an internship on a big farm to learn more about breeding and foaling first-hand!!
· I have been to many camps of different types, however this was by far the best.

The economic impact of the equine industry continues to grow nationally, as well as statewide and locally. Horses are raised at 30,000 different locations across New York State, with 920,000 acres of land dedicated for equine purposes with associated assets totaling nearly $6.2 billion. Overall, the industry provides more than 11,000 jobs annually in New York State. The importance of a knowledgeable, enthusiastic, well-trained workforce to sustain growth in this industry, particularly in Upstate New York where agriculture and tourism can co-exist, must be recognized, encouraged, and supported.

The time and effort everyone so willingly and freely gave to this program is a testimony to the great people involved and committed to the horse business. Horses are big business, but a business of passion and commitment to the betterment of society through the care and nurturing of equine. Sincere thanks and appreciation must go first to everyone involved in presenting and encouraging these youth.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County thanks:
· The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund and Cargill Animal Feed and Nutrition for providing the funds for this program
· The Harness Horse Youth Foundation for their videos and booklets.
· John Aikey for allowing us to harness “Snickers” and drive her on his track.
· Wendi Shenkel for the tour and information about NYS Bred horses and a look at all the new foals!!
· Betsy Kubiak of Sugar Hill and her staff of five for the great afternoon of tours and ice cream!!
· Debbie Mcllhagga at Ledgewood Equine Clinic for a unique look inside the equine hospital and clinic. (worms included!!)
· Kerri Gaffney at The Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Center for including us in the Equine Educational Seminar and the door prizes.
· Marion Holt from Tioga County for chaperoning
· All the participants for being inceditibly attentive and considerate of each other on such a hot, humid weekend.




Submitted by Amy Morrisey July, 2008

Get S.E.T. for a Career Camp Summary Report

CCE Ontario County. Primary Curriculum Topics (lesson plans available upon requests):

Team Building: Workplace Competencies were introduced and emphasized using a
variety of challenge/ropes course activities (problem solving initiatives, low ropes initiatives, high ropes course). Competencies covered included teamwork, adaptability, planning & organization, creative thinking, problem solving, and decision-making.

Renewable Energy: Participants designed and built solar cars, as well as explored wind
turbines and solar arrays during a presentation by Northeast Renewable Energy Resources.

Robotics: LEGO robotics equipment and curriculum from Carnegie Mellon
University provided participants the opportunity to program simple operations (e.g. forward, reverse, left, right, pick-up/grab, light sensor, touch sensor) with individually built and modified robots. A tour of GW Lisk located in Clifton Springs provided participants with direct observation of robotics used in precision engineering and an employer’s perspective on the importance of Workplace Competencies.

GPS/GIS: A series of geo-caches placed throughout 4-H Camp provided
participants with experience using hand-held GPS units. This initial experience was followed up with the development of a GIS generated map showing different soil types located at camp. Kevin Schultz, Ontario County Planning and Research Department Senior Planner, discussed the wide-ranging public and commercial applications of GPS/GIS.

Engineering: A tour of Roseland Water Park introduced participants to nautical
engineering concepts including: weight distribution, water displacement, maximum capacity, and balance vs. tipping. Knowledge was applied with participants designing; building, and racing boats made from cardboard and duct tape that would carry two people.

S.E.T. Education Bonnie Ritz, Finger Lakes Community College Admissions
Opportunities Officer provided information on local options for S.E.T. college
programs. Participants also received information on resume structuring and on getting the most from college visits.

Evaluation:

- 100% of participants stated they increased their awareness of S.E.T. careers in the Finger Lakes region.

- 100% of participants stated they increased their awareness of US Department of Labor’s “Building Blocks for Competency”.

- 84% of participants stated they had an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

- 38% of participants stated their interest in exploring SET related studies or a career increased.

A participant stated, “The complexity of precision engineering is greater than I ever imagined. The skill and knowledge necessary to program a robotic arm to complete hundreds of timed movements is amazing.”

A participant (female) stated, “Even though my career interest is in aeronautical engineering, this program provided me insight on different considerations when designing a craft.”

A parent of a participant stated, “ I just wanted to thank you for your efforts on my son’s behalf to get him into SET camp. He really enjoyed being a part of it and would love to be a part of 4-H Camp Bristol Hills next summer as well.”

Future Program Considerations:

1) It was difficult to recruit young adults to participant in a program occurring in the middle of the summer. Consideration should be given to offering multiple weekends in the fall (first choice) or spring (second choice).

2) Due to a number of unforeseen challenges arising for an organization identified to provide participants, limited success was realized in attracting young adults from limited income families and minorities. Consideration should be given to enter a written memorandum of understanding as early as possible.

3) Farm operators, Farm Bureau, supporting businesses and Cornell Cooperative Extension representatives have requested a larger presence of agriculture related SET be included in future camps. Participants could be recruited from the Ag Career Camp (www.fusiongrant.org/agcareercamp.php) currently being offered by the 4-H Programs of Ontario, Monroe, Wayne, Seneca, Livingston, and Yates Counties.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Oneida County 4-H Science Days Connect Kids to Cornell

CCE Oneida County. The Oneida County 4-H Program conducted a 4-H Science Days, April 15-17, 2009. Each day was devoted to a different are. Youth, ages 8-12 participated in the 3-day experience. April 15th was Nano-Tech Day. Jennifer Weil, director of Education for the Nanobiotechnology Center at Cornell University, spent the day doing a variety of fun and educational experiments with the youth. Twenty-two youth were involved. On April 16th we had Dr. John Losey, Department of Entomology at Cornell University, share the Lost Lady bug Project and Steve Smith, GIS Leader at Cornell University, presenting GPS/GIS and geo-caching. Twenty-five youth were involved. On April 17th staff and volunteers shared information on zoo and dairy animals, dogs and horses. Twenty-nine youth were involved.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Watersheds are worth protecting.


CCE Cayuga. Watersheds are worth protecting. This spring 7th graders from Moravia have been working on a project called, “What’s in your water?”. Sutdents studied watersheds, monitored streams (by monitoring macroinvertebrates and also by doing simple chemistry tests), used GPS units to identify exact locations of monitoring sites, and stenciled storm drains to help the community remember that what goes down a storm drain eventually ends up in Owasco Lake.

The "Stream Team", as they grew to call themselves, also worked on a community education promotional campaign. They created a flyer, made and hung posters, and developed a movie to promote their project. Their tips to others?

Know your local water bodies by name. Research says that when we know the names of the streams , rivers and lakes we are more likely to protect them.

If you dump it, you drink it. Things dumped into storm drains or roadside can pollute our drinking water.

Think before you dump. Although getting rid of old oil or grass clippings in the ditch might seem like an easy solution – it isn’t the right thing to do.

Bad water, dead fish. Water quality effects what can live in the streams. Some insects are sensitive to pollution. they can’t live in the water – the fish have nothing to eat. Bottom line – please help us to keep our watershed clean.