July 2, 2012

2012 National Youth Science Day - Eco-Bot Challenge

I am excited to announce that this year's NYSD challenge is called "Eco-Bot" and involves the design of simple "bristle bots". The learning guide includes activities in which young people design different barriers (e.g. paper cups, string, etc.) to keep the bristle bot within an area of an environmental oil spill. http://www.4-h.org/4-h-national-youth-science-day/ This activity is accessible to all ages and engages interests in robotics, stewardship of the environment, and science inquiry more broadly.

Due to generous support from Caterpillar, we have funding to purchase up to 2 kits/county.

We are asking that educators meet with their unit 4-H staff to decide how many kits you would like to request and start thinking about how you might use these. Some ideas might include:

  • A booth at an event already planned for the fall
  • A booth in a local business or museum where there is a lot of foot traffic
  • A specific NYSD event at your county office, partner school or other youth organization
  • A recruitment activity for a new robotics SPIN club
  • A leadership opportunity for an existing robotics SPIN club
  • Involve 4-H federation youth, members of an existing robotics SPIN club, or members enrolled in environmental/natural resources to help do the NYSD activity with younger youth

The kit order form has been posted to the portal under: 4-H Contacts/ScienceExcited/2012 NYSD Kit Order Form. We are asking each educator to complete the attached form by July 20, 2012 and send by fax/mail/scanned email to Dorothy Horsch at dhorsch@illinois.edu in the State 4-H Office.

If you have any questions or want to brainstorm ideas, please let me know!

Lisa (lbdiaz@illinois.edu)

Posted by Lisa Bouillion Diaz at 3:33 PM | Permalink |
Categories: 4-H Week, Funding, National Events, Science-Excited, SET, Teens