Kentucky State University 4-H Youth Development hosted five camps for children ages 5 to high school this summer. At the first S.T.E.A.M Camp, students ages 8-11 learned about all things S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). For four days, students were engaged in activities such as bridge design, robotics, 3-D printing, and more. The youth that were able to attend really had a great time this year and look forward in attending this camp in the future. The 4-H Youth Development team also hosted the second annual Adventure in Learning Cloverbud Camp, which serves youth ages 5-7. This camp is geared toward younger kids who may be new to 4-H or the camping experience. This camp helps youth develop skills that equip them to become leaders and showcase positive youth development. Youth learned about forensic science, such as the steps to identify fingerprints; about the environment; and about coding basic robotics. The youth also participated in fun and engaging activities that promote teamwork. This camp meets a huge need within the Frankfort community.

Two additional specialized S.T.E.M camps were offered for groups out of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and the King’s Center in Frankfort. Both camps were geared toward exposing middle school students to STEM-related activities. The Hilltop group completed activities at the Rosenwald Center and toured the aquaculture facility, the Kentucky Capitol, and the Kentucky State University Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm. The King’s Center group spent two days at the Rosenwald Center learning about coding and robotics. Both these partnerships were a great success.

The summer camps concluded with the Summer Transportation Institute, a two-week residential camp for high school students. The purpose of this camp is to expose high school students to the transportation industry. The participants learned about how cars are made and structures are built; listened to guest speakers from the transportation industry; and flew airplanes. "It’s a ‘wow’ learning experience,” said Maleighia Lea, a high school student from Louisville, Kentucky. Four of the 14 students who attended the camp are wanting to attend Kentucky State University in the fall. The 4-H Youth Development team has big ideas and plans for next year, and we hope that more participants and volunteers can come be part of our camps. View a video about the experience here: https://bit.ly/3OnoFwS.