Grayson County 4-H has had a member on the state 4-H Science, Engineering, and Technology Board for two years, and in her second year, came to the 4-H Agent with the idea and desire to have an SET Club in the county. The agent strives to allow and foster the youth to bring new and innovative ideas and bring them to fruition. They discussed in length the ideas the member had, as well as the logistics to make it happen. The teen would be the primary leader and her older sister, now 4-H Alum, as the adult volunteer advisor. The youth of the Grayson County 4-H SET Squad, would meet monthly at the Extension Office to learn activities that they would later teach to their peers at a summer day camp. The teen leader and agent both agreed that they desired for this group to be more than a club, but not a board, hence the creation of the SET Squad. The nine members and their parents signed forms stating they would be committed to the group and learning the activities and building the leadership skills necessary for teaching peers.

A day camp was planned for early July at the Extension Office, the nine members met with the teen leader the day prior to go over all of the activities planned and have practice runs led by the members who volunteered to teach each of the four stations. Supplies that were needed were all available materials the 4-H Agent already had on hand. The day of the event, 17 youth were in attendance for the day camp and received six hours of SET education. The stations and activities the participants engaged in included: Amazing Maze- Computer Coding activity, SNAP Circuits- Electricity and Circuits, Junk Drawer Boat- Engineering Design Challenge, Make-a-Maze- Design and Creativity, DIY Flashlights, and LEGO Bridge Challenge. At the end of the day, the participants all had fun, learned new science activities, and enjoyed their peers being their teachers.

Upon completing the day of teaching, the SET Squad was asked to complete a survey.

Before the day camp, 44% had rated themselves at 1 or 2 (1 being lowest on 5 point scale) on their level of confidence in giving presentations.

After the day camp, 100% had highest levels of confidence in giving presentations.

Before the day camp, 44% did not have confidence in teaching a lesson to their peers.

After the day camp, 100% had high confidence in teaching lessons to their peers.

100% built confidence in themselves during SET Squad meetings.

100% say that 4-H has helped them build the confidence they need to become a good leader for their peers.

The groups’ teen leader provided this statement, “I created the SET Squad with the objective of bringing together youth to make a difference in our communities through leadership, science, engineering, and technology (SET). The mission for the Squad was to coordinate and implement a 4-H Day Camp at the end of the school year; to achieve this I planned every meeting to help each member grow their leadership skills and knowledge of SET. Throughout the year I have watched these youth grow closer as a team, build stronger confidence and become exceptional leaders.”