4-H Science, Engineering,
and Technology (SET)
4-H SET Initiative Plan of Action
Goal #1: Improve youth science literacy through educational
programming that:
1.
2.
3.
Use high quality curricula based on UC ANR initiatives
Prepare volunteer educators with effective professional development
Are designed to meet the needs of diverse youth audiences
Goal #2: Advance the research-base of youth
nonformal science education.
Goal #3: Support the first two goals through
effective resource development.
Guided by the 4-H SET Leadership Team
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Andrea Ambrose, Corporate and Foundation Major Gifts Officer, California 4-H Foundation
Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty, County Director San Benito County & 4-H Youth Development Advisor
Martin Smith, Associate CE Specialist, Youth Curriculum Development, UCD
Steven Worker, 4-H Science, Engineering, and Technology Coordinator, YFC
Key Accomplishments 2008-2014
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Professional Development: Prepared hundreds of 4-H staff and
volunteers to facilitate high quality science education; e.g., hosted the 2012
Western Region 4-H Science Academy & numerous workshops.
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Curriculum Development: Developed, tested, and disseminated over a
dozen 4-H science-related curricula.
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Research and Evaluation: Published over 20 research and evaluation
studies in JOE, CalAg, Afterschool Matters, and others.
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Partnerships: Strengthened collaborations with external stakeholders;
e.g., Lawrence Hall of Science, California Afterschool Network.
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Fund Development: Secured over $2.4 million in support for 4-H SET
programs and activities from USDA, ANR, corporations, foundations, and cost
recovery/program fee sources.
Examples of Key Youth Outcomes
1. 91% of California 4-H members report liking science.
2. California high school students who participate in science-related
4-H programming take more and higher level science courses than
their non-4-H peers.
3. 4-H members are 1.5X as likely to do well in science classes.
4. 4-H girls are 2X as likely to have plans to pursue science careers.
Future Efforts 2015 and onward
Program development in the areas of:
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Water
Environmental/Ecosystem education
Animal science and bio-security
Plant science, gardening
Connections between science and engineering
Capacity Building
1. Build 4-H professionals (staff & academic)
capacity to provide effective professional
development for volunteer educators
2. Build organizational capacity of the California 4-H
for durability and sustainability.
Linking to Water Quality, Quantity, and Security
4-H SET efforts have initiated programming for
youth to learn about human interventions in
the water cycle and then apply this knowledge
through a service-learning project.
“4-H efforts to improve science literacy in the
area of watershed science not only provides
youth with the opportunity to engage in a
critical local issue, it also expands UC ANR's
reach to the youth who will be responsible for
developing and implementing water policies in
the future.”
- Darren Haver, Water Quality Advisor, South
Coast REC and Orange County Director
Linking to Endemic and Invasive Pests and Diseases
ANR has a history of supporting 4-H youth in
animal science projects where they care for,
breed, grow, show and market their products.
Recent efforts focus on help 4-H youth develop
biosecurity practices that will reduce the risk of
disease spread.
Projects include:
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publishing the Bio-Security in 4-H Animal Science
curriculum (Smith et al.)
conducting research funded by a 2013 ANR grant
planning the inaugural 2015 State Animal Science
Symposium
Linking to Sustainable Food Systems
The Discovering Healthy Choices curriculum
developed through a 2011 ANR Grant is a
multi-component, school-based approach to
supporting regional agriculture, promoting
healthy behaviors, and reducing childhood
obesity.
Education Goal: youth learn about the
nutrition in foods we eat and the connections
with agriculture science, native plants and
animals.
Research Goal: Identifying promising
practices for science and nutrition education.