Why STEM Education Still Matters

STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, has been a buzzword in youth development for decades—so prevalent in the conversation that sometimes we don’t even hear it. Is STEM education really still so important? Yes. As a hard skill, STEM education is very important.

“The progression of learning occurs with each science and engineering experience and is magnified by frequency and intentionality.” – National Science Teaching Association

Opportunities for our youth to have hands-on, experiential learning in STEM are important—not only for their academic success and continued growth, but also in opening doors for further study and future careers. Early exposure can guide youth toward careers they might not have considered, and give them experiences that will help them reach their academic and professional goals later in life.

4-H STEM Programs in Pamlico County

In 4-H, we offer several programs that allow youth to explore, learn, and develop skills in STEM. One of our major programs in Pamlico is It’s Electric.

It's Electric: Sparking Interest in Electricity

We started last summer with the It’s Electric Day Camp, which served as an introduction to learning and exploring the world of electricity. We learned about insulators versus conductors and gained basic skills in soldering.

Our It’s Electric program continued through the fall and spring with monthly sessions. We built mini Tesla coils and started working on photo-sensing model cars.

What Is a Mini Tesla Coil?

A mini Tesla coil is a smaller version of the original Tesla coil, often designed for educational use, entertainment, or as a fun science project. It uses electromagnetic induction to generate a high-voltage, high-frequency electromagnetic field. This field can create arcs, light up neon lights, or even wirelessly power certain devices.Five of our youth completed project record books and earned the opportunity to attend 4-H Electric Congress this summer!

More 4-H Programs That Build Life Skills

While STEM education is an important and fun part of our 4-H program, it isn’t the only youth programming we’ve offered this fall and spring. We also had:

• Sew Much Fun
• Down East Dairy Project
• Ag 101
• School Embryology
• Chopped! International!

Each of these 4-H programs combines fun, hands-on activities with leadership, service, and life skills.

Sew Much Fun

Our Sew Much Fun youth designed their own skirts and lap quilt patterns, applying math concepts to creative pursuits.

Down East Dairy Project

Our Down East Dairy Project has allowed youth to learn about dairy farming, dairy calf care, and how to show a dairy calf.

Ag 101

Our Ag 101 class learned about different aspects of the agriculture industry, agricultural research, and planted a micro farm at school.

School Embryology

Our in-school Embryology program allows Pamlico youth to apply life science concepts by observing duck embryo development.

Chopped! International

Our Chopped! International program gave youth the chance to cook dishes from all around the world, learn where those countries are, and even explore how their governments work. We’ve got one more Chopped! session left—and this time, we’re keeping things a little closer to home. We’ll be cooking the state foods of three different U.S. states and learning some fun facts about each one!

Get Involved with 4-H This Summer

Stay tuned for upcoming summer 4-H Fun Programs! If you would like to be notified via email about all future programs, please fill out our Email Sign Up form, or give us a call! You can also get a head start on registration for specific programs by enrolling in 4-H Online. Participation in all NC 4-H Programs requires enrollment in 4-H Online. If you have any questions about accessing 4-H Online or the enrollment process, please give us a call at 252-745-4121 and we will be happy to walk you through it. You can also learn more about 4-H in North Carolina and our programs throughout the year on our website!