According to an eight-year longitudinal study conducted by the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University demonstrated that compared to non-4-H youth, participants in 4-H: 

* Reported better grades and an elevated level of engagement at school 

* Are nearly 2x's more likely to plan to go to college and are more likely to pursue a STEM career 

* 4-H girls are nearly 3x's more likely to participate in STEM programs 

Since one of the fastest growing job fields in the United States is careers in Science, Engineering and Technology, and based on the research cited above, the Hickman County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development partnered with the 21^st Century Afterschool Grant program to provide a wide variety of STEM opportunities for an average of 38 youth, including 4 home-schooled children, during a 6 day STEM Day Camp. 

Each day a new topic was presented and the youth were challenged to discover principles behind each new activity. Youth participated in building boats to hold a certain amount of weight in water, building containers to support an egg in an egg dropping contest, and learned more about water pressure.

After studying and learning about new science principles, the youth were rewarded with field trips to experience science in real life situations. Places visited were the Discovery Park of America, Reelfoot Lake, and putting their water knowledge to action at Venture River Water Park.

After being asked, 100% of the youth said they saw science in a new way. 

85% of the youth reported that they learned something new during the week.

Above all, youth were able to experience and put their knowledge to work by visiting places they may have not been able to visit otherwise.