Greenhouse SEED Project
Upcoming Project
Project Overview
Are you interested in learning how solar and wind energy work? Would you like to learn about circuitry and the engineering design process while working with peers either virtually or in small groups? If so, the Greenhouse Sustainable Energy Engineering Design (SEED) Project is for you! Participate in this hands-on problem based learning (PBL) project that takes you to a new level of understanding math, 3D modeling, engineering and architectural design, how solar, wind, hydro sustainable energy works and much more, while building your own model scale greenhouse.
The Greenhouse (SEED) Project is a multidisciplinary project that integrates the: social and cultural perspectives and experiences of students; Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM); and the engineering design to build a Sustainable green energy greenhouse through a hands-on problem based learning approach. The curriculum has several modules that take students through 60-hours, 10-weeks journey of self exploration in building a model scale greenhouse and then recreating it with new ideas based on what they learned through the hands-on experiences on 3D modeling, architectural and engineering design, circuitry, solar, wind and hydro sustainable-green energies and much more while working collaboratively in person in at your school, club or youth center. This project is truly an experience like no other!
The 4-H STEM YOUniversity Program is expanding it's STEM projects statewide and bringing the Greenhouse (SEED) Project to all 15 counties and the 5 Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Programs (FRTEP) in Arizona. Expanding the Greenhouse SEED project across the state has been possible with the financial support of the AZ 4-H Youth Foundation.
Previous Projects
2022 Highlights
Arizona 4-H STEM YOUniversity is excited to offer the Greenhouse Sustainable Energy Engineering Design (SEED) Project, from August through October 2022.
2021 Spring Highlights
We had a fantastic spring semester implementing the semester long Greenhouse SEED Project.
2018 Summer Highlights
STEM RISE Arizona a project funded by the Agnese Nelms Haury Challenge Grant in Social and Environmental Justice impacted 232 Southern Arizona Native American and Hispanic Youth. This project is an example of Haury Program value’s in building university – community partnerships to address wicked social and environmental challenges. This collaborative partnership included San Xavier District Education Department of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribal Education Department, Sunnyside Unified School District, Tucson Unified School District, Baboquivari Unified School District, Indigenous Strategies Inc. and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The overall program had several goals that were achieved: 1) professional development workshops in project-based learning, culturally relevant, greenhouse and garden, wind and solar energy STEM curriculum were given to 10 teachers, 6 paraprofessionals and 12 undergraduate students; 2) seven 3-wk summer camps for elementary students at San Xavier Education Department, Lawrence School and Indian Oasis Intermediate were implemented; 3) five 5-wk summer camps, two at Sunnyside High School and Pueblo High School for middle and high school students and one at Lawrence for middle school students were implemented; 4) field trips to the UA for the 5-wk program students to participate in STEM activities from the Indians Into Medicine Program, Southwest Environmental Health Science Center and School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, and a ENR2 tour were provided; 5) a new San Xavier Co-op Farm 4-H was developed and STEM activities with the San Xavier Voices of our Youth (VOY) program were given. The achievement of these project goals began the process of encouraging, transforming and empowering our Native American and Hispanic youth to excel in high school and plan to attend the University of Arizona to pursue STEM related fields. The 5-wk and 3-wk 2018 STEM RISE Arizona summer of Solarpunk ended with students, parents, community members and staff celebrating the collaborative student greenhouse and garden projects by hosting student showcase and recognition events, where 255 family and community members had an opportunity to see and hear students present posters and projects.