Amazement Square 4-H Science Day: Kevin Irvin of the Amherst County 4-H leads kids in interactive learning.
“Have you ever seen a Van de Graaff generator in action? Student participants at the November 3rd 4-H Science Day can now check that off of their life’s to-do list. Amherst County 4-H Agent, Kevin Irvin and Lynchburg City 4-H Agent, Kevin Camm coordinated a 4-H Science Day with the assistance of sponsors including Amazement Square, AREVA, and the Future Focus Foundation (the educational foundation of the Virginia’s Region 2000 Technology Council).
The program proved successful involving nearly 40 participants and teen volunteers in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math) activities focused on energy. Students from Amherst County Schools Amelon, Central, and Madison Heights elementary schools participated in the event as well as R.S. Payne elementary from Lynchburg City. Students were exposed to the wonders of a Van de Graaff generator, conducted experiments with static electricity, built a solar powered fan, and explored the construction of series and parallel circuits. Lynchburg 4-H Agent Kevin Camm stated “I think the event went really well and the kids were able to learn more about energy and electricity in a hands-on type of way. This event would not have been possible without the support of AREVA, the Region 2000 Technology Council, and Amazement Square. Amherst County 4-H Agent Kevin Irvin added “the kids seemed excited, ready to learn, and were actively engaged in discussion and the science activities.”
4-H is the youth development program of Virginia Cooperative Extension, a department of Virginia Tech and Virginia State Universities. To learn more about the Amherst County and Lynchburg City 4-H Programs visit their office websites at http://offices.ext.vt.edu/amherst/ and http://offices.ext.vt.edu/lynchburg/
The Future Focus Foundation is the educational non-profit organization of Virginia’s Region 2000 Technology Council. The mission of the Foundation is to prepare and encourage Region 2000 students in K-12 and beyond to seek careers in STEM fields and to provide a pipeline for a technically and scientifically proficient workforce in Virginia’s Region 2000. For more information on the Future Focus Foundation STEM activities, please contact Managing Director Elizabeth Narehood at enarehood [at] techcouncil [dot] us or (434) 847-1447.”
