STEM

Registration open for the Aquaculture Challenge

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You’re invited to participate in this year’s Aquaculture Challenge! The Aquaculture Challenge is a competitive science and business competition hosted by the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network and Lake Superior State University (LSSU). It is open to all schools, homeschool groups and individuals, and education non-profits. The challenge has a middle school division (6th – 8th grade) and a high school division (9th-12th grade).

During the challenge teams of students can choose one or more categories to compete in:

  1. Design Challenge: Design and build an aquaponics system of any size
  2. Monitor Challenge: Monitor the chemical and biological portions of an aquaponics system with extra points for organized data, automated monitoring, and automated system adjustments based on collected data.
  3. Business Challenge: Generate a business plan that targets aquaculture industry issues and proposes solutions.
  4. Outreach Challenge: Plan, facilitate, and execute an aquaculture focused outreach project in your local community.

Teams can work on the challenge as part of a class or as an after-school activity. Multiple teams can register per school, and teams can also register as part of after school clubs or other academic related organizations. This competition is open to all interested individuals regardless of location (although stipends are only available to those in Great Lakes states).

Teams can submit for awards for each category they compete in plus a cumulative award.

Teams are supported with online resources, training over Zoom, a small team stipend ($150 for those in Great Lakes states), and a liaison (Sea Grant/LSSU) who helps guide the team during the season.

The registration deadline is January 14, 2026, with competition running from late January through early April. Student teams will submit videos showcasing their accomplishments, as well as supporting materials online. The deadline for submissions is April 24, 2026.  A virtual awards ceremony will be held on May 7th, 2026.

Registering a team is simple and free: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScv_9jEkBq81fBSjxo_ncIQVOIluJr-jwEz2OE33D-Y9jhEFQ/viewform

More Information:

Feel free to share this with others who may be interested.

To learn more about the challenge or get some questions answered, there will be two informal Q&A sessions where interested educators or students can attend to ask questions about the challenge. These Q&A sessions will be over Zoom on the following dates (Zoom links embedded):

Coach Q&A/Information Sessions NEW Schedule. Each session will start with a 10-minute presentation followed by 50 minutes of Q&A time where coaches can pop in to ask questions. Attendance for the full hour is NOT required, and coaches can hop on anytime during the full hour to get questions answered.

1.      December 19th, 2025, 12:30pm eastern / 11:30am central, https://msu.zoom.us/j/94522501807?pwd=BEHex5Jaia1tY7bmZ69glPJ9C4Hl7G.1 

2.     January 8th, 2026, 4pm eastern / 3pm central,
https://msu.zoom.us/j/95360546694?pwd=uAFea9YcZppwiTuBsPjRop0uuhVBdW.1

In Ohio, contact Nicole Wright, Aquaculture Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant: wright.1128@osu.edu, 330-202-3594.

Go For Launch! STEM Camp at OSU

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Go For Launch! is a 2-day program for high school students (grades 8-12) that uses space exploration as a platform to increase involvement in STEM fields. Students will be immersed in human spaceflight through talks delivered by experts, including former astronaut Wendy Lawrence, International Space Station (ISS) and Space Shuttle flight controllers, scientists, and engineers. During the program, students from local high schools will be broken into teams to define and design a space experiment. At the conclusion of the program, experts will choose a winning experiment, and if selected from a series of programs, it will be sent to the ISS or into suborbital flight!

For more information or to register, please see the flyer below or visit the program website.

4-H Zoo Apprentice Camp

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The 4-H Zoo Apprentice Camp is a unique opportunity for 4-H’ers to explore the world of animals at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida.

In this experience, the world’s largest zoological organization partners with 4-H to offer the opportunity for members to experience one-of-a-kind adventures in Busch Gardens’ 335-acre African-themed living classroom and SeaWorld’s 200-acre aquatic classroom.

4-H’ers become amateur zookeepers, assist zoo staff behind the scenes, and observe animal care sessions. In this learn-by-doing environment, members explore careers in the animal field and learn about animal conservation all while having fun in the park!

Two Camps are open to all 4-H Members 4-H Junior Zoo Apprentice Camp for youth ages 11-13 & 4-H Zoo Apprentice for youth 14+! Both camps will take place December 27-31, 2025. Truly a great way to spend winter break! Register HERE. Registration deadline is December 8, 2025.

REMINDER: Teen Achievement Awards Forms and Licking County 4-H Committee Scholarship DUE

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The 2026 Ohio 4-H Achievement Awards Form Packet as well as the 2025 Licking County 4-H Committee Scholarship Packet are now available. Both forms can be found on the Teen Opportunities page of the website. Achievement Awards forms and the 4-H Committee Scholarship are due to the Licking County Extension Office by Friday, October 10, 2025. By completing the Achievement Awards forms, members have the opportunity to be recognized for their comprehensive project work and leadership activities and can be chosen to represent Licking County at the state level competition. Applicants are also eligible to apply for state trips/camps and other opportunities through this process. Members must be at least 14 (as of 01/01/2026) in order to be eligible for this process. Please reach out to Lisa McCutcheon (mccutcheon.46@osu.edu) with questions or for help with the process.

Teen Achievement Awards Forms and Licking County 4-H Committee Scholarship

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The 2026 Ohio 4-H Achievement Awards Form Packet as well as the 2025 Licking County 4-H Committee Scholarship Packet are now available. Both forms can be found on the Teen Opportunities page of the website. Achievement Awards forms and the 4-H Committee Scholarship are due to the Licking County Extension Office by Friday, October 10, 2025. By completing the Achievement Awards forms, members have the opportunity to be recognized for their comprehensive project work and leadership activities and can be chosen to represent Licking County at the state level competition. Applicants are also eligible to apply for state trips/camps and other opportunities through this process. Members must be at least 14 (as of 01/01/2026) in order to be eligible for this process. Please reach out to Lisa McCutcheon (mccutcheon.46@osu.edu) with questions or for help with the process.

REMINDER: 2025 ExploreAg Fall Sessions

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Don’t miss out as the deadline to register is fast approaching! Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is hosting three free ExploreAg Camp experiences during the fall for high school students to explore careers in food, agriculture, and STEM-related areas!

ExploreAg Overview

Purpose: Discover careers linked to agriculture and related STEM fields through a series of immersive and hands-on experiences and tours.

Who: Ohio students entering grades 9-12 in the fall, or recent high school graduates.

Cost: Free 

Learn more and apply by Sept. 30

2025 ExploreAg Fall Single-Day Sessions

  • Oct. 17, Eastern Ohio Camp, Coshocton
  • Oct. 24 COLT Lineman Training, Mount Gilead–NEW DATE
  • Oct. 28, Meat Processing Camp, Jeromesville

See the website for session descriptions.

ExploreAg is Ohio Farm Bureau’s signature ag literacy and workforce development program, offering free week, multi-day and day-long immersion programs for high school students. In ExploreAg, teens learn about agriculture and related STEM fields from industry experts, scientists and educators.

Questions or concerns? Contact info@exploreag.org.

Ignite by 4-H

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Ignite by 4-H is a national summit designed to bring high school youth (between 14-18) together from across the country and give them the opportunity to explore the best 4-H has to offer in different tracks including Agriscience, Animal Science, Community Accelerators, Healthy Living and STEM. (CWF at Ignite is not included in this application process, please contact your county 4-H professional to learn more). A hallmark of Ignite is the Lead to Change campaign which empowers youth to be Agents of Change where you (as a delegation) will create and present a proposal to address issues within your community. The best proposals are then awarded funding for implementation. In 2026, Ignite by 4-H returns for youth to attend in-person in Washington D. C. during March 25-29, 2026.

Who:                         High School Aged Teens (14-18) interested in Agriscience, Animal Science, Community Accelerators, Healthy Living and STEM

Where:                    Washington, DC (Washington Hilton – 1919 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC)

When:                      Wednesday, March 25th – Sunday, March 29th

Application:          Apply online at go.osu.edu/4Hignite by September 19th at 8:59pm

Cost:                         Selected delegates will have summit registration and travel expenses covered

For more information, please visit go.osu.edu/4HIgniteOhio

2025 ExploreAg Fall Sessions

by

Don’t miss out! Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is hosting three free ExploreAg Camp experiences during the fall for high school students to explore careers in food, agriculture, and STEM-related areas!

ExploreAg Overview

Purpose: Discover careers linked to agriculture and related STEM fields through a series of immersive and hands-on experiences and tours.

Who: Ohio students entering grades 9-12 in the fall, or recent high school graduates.

Cost: Free 

Learn more and apply by Sept. 30

2025 ExploreAg Fall Single-Day Sessions

  • Oct. 17, Eastern Ohio Camp, Coshocton
  • Oct. 24 COLT Lineman Training, Mount Gilead–NEW DATE
  • Oct. 28, Meat Processing Camp, Jeromesville

See the website for session descriptions.

ExploreAg is Ohio Farm Bureau’s signature ag literacy and workforce development program, offering free week, multi-day and day-long immersion programs for high school students. In ExploreAg, teens learn about agriculture and related STEM fields from industry experts, scientists and educators.

Questions or concerns? Contact info@exploreag.org.

REMINDER: 2025 4-H STEM Camp Registrations Due

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Youth in grades 5, 6, & 7 are invited to join Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp in Jackson, Ohio this summer at 4-H STEM Camp!

Register by June 15th at go.osu.edu/4HSTEMCamp

4-H STEM Camp focuses on the topics of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in ways that are unique and fun. Youth explore the outdoors and learn about the science of the world around them through interactive sessions. Campers enjoy traditional camp activities with a STEM spin, such as campfire, with a fire science or chemistry focus.

For registration information, visit 4hcanterscave.osu.edu.

REMINDER: 2025 4-H STEM Camp

by

Youth in grades 5, 6, & 7 are invited to join Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp in Jackson, Ohio this summer at 4-H STEM Camp!

Register by June 15th at go.osu.edu/4HSTEMCamp

4-H STEM Camp focuses on the topics of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in ways that are unique and fun. Youth explore the outdoors and learn about the science of the world around them through interactive sessions. Campers enjoy traditional camp activities with a STEM spin, such as campfire, with a fire science or chemistry focus.

For registration information, visit 4hcanterscave.osu.edu.