(UW Extension 4-H Walworth County press release) Youth, grades 6-8, can explore four fascinating science fields through a new virtual 4-H science series called 4-H Science Explorers: Into the Lab. As series participants, youth will dive into the fields of animal science, engineering, biotechnology, and forensics as they interact with real world scientists, tour science “labs,” learn about careers, and engage in relevant hands-on activities.
Presenters will include Dr. Christine Fortin, Center Hill Veterinary Clinic; Tom Zinnen and Liz Jesse, Outreach Specialists at UW-Madison Biotechnology Center; Professor Jason Kawasaki, Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at UW-Madison; Matthew Stilwell, Associate Director of Education and Outreach for the UW-Madison Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (UW-MRSEC) and Instructor Timothy Juedes, UW-Platteville Department of Forensics Science.
Into the Lab will be hosted virtually via Zoom every Thursday night from March 25 through April 22 starting at 6:30 p.m. Participants will complete each night’s activity using a combination of provided materials and common household items. During the series, participants will try suturing (using a practice kit), build a triboelectric generator, extract DNA from wheat, and analyze mock forensic evidence. At the end of the session, they’ll visit a virtual escape room as a wrap-up challenge and celebration of learning. 4-H MEMBERSHIP IS NOT REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE. Interested, but unable to attend all of the scheduled sessions? No worries! Each session will be recorded, so youth who are unable to attend live can still get the complete series experience simply by requesting the recording.
Cost is $20 per participant. This helps cover the supplies included in the Into the Lab Kit which participating families will be responsible for picking up during specified dates and times at the Walworth County Government Center, 100 W Walworth Street, Elkhorn. You choose the pick-up time during registration. Need-based partial scholarships are available upon request; contact your county 4-H educator. For more information and to register, visit the Walworth County Extension website at: walworth.extension.wisc.edu or call 262-741-4959. You can also access the registration form directly at: https://go.wisc.edu/604a6k . Registration deadline is March 14, 2021. The series is limited to the first 60 participants who sign up.
4-H Science Explorers programming is a collaborative effort by UW-Madison Extension 4-H educators in Crawford, Lafayette, and Walworth Counties and the UW-Madison BioTrek staff. A special thank you to the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation and BioForward Wisconsin for their financial support of this series. 4-H is the statewide Positive Youth Development program of University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this or any 4-H program, contact the Walworth County Extension Office.
