April 20, 2007

Nebraska 4-H's new science and technology program will be featured in a new six-day camp this summer.The camp, June 17-22 at Gretna, will feature 4-H's robotics, Global Position Systems and Geographic Information Systems programs.

The pilot program, aimed at middle-school students ages 11-14, is funded in part by the National Science Foundation. This camp is the first part of a three-year project to provide youth hands-on experiences and career exploration in science, engineering and technology. Next spring 200 youth and 50 adult volunteers will be recruited to participate in the camp and to form 4-H clubs and after-school programs centered around robotics and geospatial concepts.Campers will get hands-on experience with building and operating robots, using the Lego Mindstorms NXT activity kit. Previous robotics experience is not required.

Activities will include: building and programming robots; operating handheld GPS receivers; operating aerial photography equipment; and exploring careers in sciene, engineering and technology. Robotics, GPS and GIS technologies will be applied to geo-tracking and navigation, digital map making and land surveillance, and precision agriculture and natural resource management.

The camp will be at the Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center in Gretna. The $380 fee includes meals, lodging and program. Scholarships, which could reduce the fee to $100, are available.

Information and registration is available online at http://4hset.unl.edu/itest/camp.php. Information and registration is also available in the "4-H 2007 Summer Camps and Trips" brochure available from the Nebraska State 4-H office.

For more information about the 4-H Robotics and GPS/GIS camp, or to receive scholarship information, contact Kevin Kramer, 4-H Youth Development, at (402) 472-2718 or e-mail kkramer3@unl.edu. Maximum enrollment is 25. Registration and scholarships are on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Nebraska 4-H camps and centers are owned and operated through a partnership of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension 4-H Program and the Nebraska 4-H Foundation.

Dan Moser
IANR News Service