STEM

Youth Opportunity: STEM Camp at Canter’s Cave

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Registration for 4-H STEM Camp at Canter’s Cave is now available! This camp is available to any 5th-7th grade students interested in exploring STEM with a camp twist. A flyer is attached. Last year we had 53 campers at camp. We are hoping to double our numbers this year!

Registration and other information can be found at: go.osu.edu/4HSTEMCamp

  • When: June 10 – June 12, 2024
  • Where: Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp, Jackson OH (1362 Caves Rd. Jackson, OH 45640)
  • Cost: Camp fee: $100.00
  • Who: Camp is open to children completing 5th, 6th, or 7th grades this spring.
  • Registration Deadline: Tuesday, May 28th

We are also needing camp counselors! Please send any camp counselors interested in assisting with STEM camp our way. They do not need to be particularly strong in STEM to counsel this camp!

Ohio 4-H is going solar!

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Ohioans will experience a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse on April 8, and Ohio 4-H has resources to help you prepare. With more than half of Ohio counties located in the path of totality and the remaining counties experiencing a partial solar eclipse, this is an event you will not want to miss.

What is a total solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse is a rare astronomical event that occurs when the moon

appears to completely cover the sun, blocking out its light. Across the world, a total solar eclipse only occurs once every 18 months or so, but depending on where you live, it may be more than a century before another total solar eclipse passes through the same area again. For example, the last total solar eclipse to be visible in Ohio took place in 1806 and the next one won’t happen until 2099!

Interested in learning more about the eclipse? Check out this video to learn about the science behind a total solar eclipse.

Check to see if your county falls in the path of totality.

Check to see if your county falls in the path of totality.

Remember to stay safe!
Outside of the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun from view, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without special eye protection. Solar eclipse glasses are a great way to keep your eyes safe and Ohio 4-H has a few tips to help you use them properly.

Eclipse glasses can be safely secured on smaller heads with a ribbon or elastic band.

Eclipse glasses can be safely secured on smaller heads with a ribbon or elastic band.

 

  1. Check with the American Astronomical Society’s list of safe suppliers when purchasing eclipse glasses and verify that any eclipse glasses or viewers you receive have evidence that they comply with ISO 12312-2, the international safety standard for solar filters.
  2. Do not use sunglasses or homemade filters as an alternative to eclipse glasses or filters.
  3. Do not look at the sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device while using eclipse glasses or filters.
  4. Supervise young children to make sure their solar glasses or filters are being used properly. To be sure of a snug fit, try securing the glasses behind their head with ribbons or elastic bands.

Looking for more tips to keep you safe during the total solar eclipse? Check out Ohio 4-H’s Eclipse Safety Guide or watch this informational video.

Learn more about the total solar eclipse
A family demonstrates how to use solar eclipse glasses.

A family demonstrates how to use solar eclipse glasses.

Are you a parent or educator looking for engaging ways to help youth learn about the total solar eclipse? Ohio 4-H has the perfect resources for you! Thanks to Dr. Cynthia Canan, Extension STEM Specialist for 4-H, the Ohio 4-H STEAM Design Team, and OSU Extension Publishing, a series of fun, educational activities has been created to get youth excited about the total solar eclipse.

Help youth understand the science behind a total solar eclipse with the “Small Moon, Big Sun” activities, or let them unleash their creativity by decorating their solar eclipse glasses or making an eclipse-themed bookmark that detects the presence of UV light. Discover these activities and more on the Ohio 4-H Solar Eclipse web page.

Source: Ohio 4-H Foundation News, March 2024

Youth Opportunity: We Grow Scientists on the OSU Campus – May 1

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The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) will host the second annual “We Grow Scientists” event at Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory. This free event is open to learners of all ages interested in learning more about STEM in their community and at OSU. Visit the event webpage for more information.

This afternoon of hands-on learning and activities will showcase the many STEM fields CFAES has to offer and will include a look at Waterman facilities such as the Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex (CEARC). “We Grow Scientists” is a free event open to learners of all ages looking to learn more about STEM in their community as part of the COSI Science Festival (May 1-4, 2024). Bring the whole family! Visit go.osu.edu/cosi24 for additional information.

Save the Dates: 2024 Summer Judging will be July 15 & 16

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NEW for 2024, we will be having summer project judging on TWO days. The judging schedule will be as follows and project judging will take place at the Ed Sands Building at the Fairgrounds.

Monday, July 15, 2024

  • Food and Nutrition Projects
  • Creative Arts Projects
  • Family & Consumer Sciences Miscellaneous Projects
  • ALL Self-Determined Projects
  • Clothing/Sewing Projects
    • Details are still being worked out for the Style Revue.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

  • Leadership
  • Communications
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Sciences

Youth Opportunity: STEM Camp at Canter’s Cave (Jackson, OH)

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Youth in grades 5-7 are invited to join us at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp June 19th-21st for STEM Camp 2023! 4-H STEM Camp is an overnight camping opportunity for youth interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. We are excited to be able to offer STEM Camp at a reduced rate thanks to a 4-H Foundation Grant, lowering the cost of camp for youth to just $100.00.

Register by June 1st at go.osu.edu/4HSTEMCamp

Questions? Email allman.68@osu.edu or call (740) 286-5044

Additionally, we need camp counselors!! We are asking for male camp counselors to join us at STEM Camp if they are available. As of right now, we do not have enough male counselors to feel comfortable so if you have any teens interested in helping with camp, we’d greatly appreciate you sharing our message. If you have a camp counselor interested in helping, please have them email me at allman.68@osu.edu and we will get them connected. No STEM background or strengths required!!

2023 STEM Camp Flyer

Ohio Academy of Science STEM Scholarships: Apps due 3/31/2023

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Ohio 4-H members are eligible to use their STEM participation within 4-H to apply for the $2,000 scholarships available. Deadline has been extended to March 31, 2023.  Last year several of 4-H members received scholarships (and they were only $1,000). Please share with your Juniors and Seniors as there are 99 scholarships available (one per state congressional districts).

https://form.jotform.com/OhioScience/STEM-scholarship

For more information: 2022-2023 Statewide STEM Scholarship Application

4-H Members with STEM Projects – Apply for scholarships to help you with your project(s)!

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The purpose of this scholarship program is to recognize students throughout Ohio for their contributions to STEM Innovation and Entrepreneurship. To ensure that students from all parts of Ohio receive recognition, we would like to award at least one $2,000 scholarship in each of Ohio’s ninety-nine State House of Representative districts, and thirty-three Ohio State Senate districts.  Deadline is March 15, 2023.

https://form.jotform.com/OhioScience/STEM-scholarship

PDF with Information: 2022-2023 Statewide STEM Scholarship Application

Save the Dates: 2023 Summer Judging will be July 11-13

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Continuing for 2023, we will be having summer project judging on 3 days. The judging schedule will be as follows and project judging will take place at the Ed Sands Building at the Fairgrounds. Additionally, one change for 2023 is that ALL Self-Determined Projects will be judged on the same day

Tuesday, July, 11, 2023

  • Food and Nutrition Projects
  • Creative Arts Projects
  • Family & Consumer Sciences Miscellaneous Projects
  • ALL Self-Determined Projects

Wednesday, July, 12, 2023

  • Leadership
  • Communications
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Sciences

Thursday, July 13, 2023

  • Clothing/Sewing Projects
  • Style Revue to take place that evening at 7:00 p.m. (location TBD)

Ohio 4-H Entrepreneur SPIN Club (Virtual) – scholarships available!

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Ohio 4-H is proud to partner with Believe in Ohio (https://believeinohio.org/) to kick off a new STEM- based 4-H SPIN club this fall and winter for high school youth.

This club will meet virtually on Thursday from 6:30 – 8:00 pm starting on 10/27 – 12/15 (skipping Thanksgiving).   Youth will learn about the components of an entrepreneurial business plan and create a STEM-based project and pitch video as the final product.  Projects will be eligible for local ($100-500), regional ($1,000) and state ($5,000) based scholarships.  In Spring 2022 not all scholarships were given out.

Youth who participate will be 2023 4-H members in the county they live in.

To participate in the club, sign up using the link below.

https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6m1FfsTCTRNrNWe

Youth can only miss 2 meetings to be eligible for awards. Youth can also submit their project as a self-determined 4-H project in their own county for county based awards and recognition in summer 2023.

All meetings will be recorded.  Youth will work on their STEM business plans with the help of a STEM advocate from Believe in Ohio from 12/15/22 – 1/31/2023.

More information about the scholarships and program can be found here: https://believeinohio.org/scholarships/

If you cannot make the Thursday night meetings, you could also participate on your own as an independent student, but would not receive the support of the STEM Advocates, and learning with other 4-H members.

https://believeinohio.org/independent-students/