STEM YOUniversity Projects

Embrace the role of an Agricultural Ambassador within your country and embark on a journey to impart your experiences, skills, and boundless enthusiasm to others. As an Ag Ambassador, you will not only have the opportunity to share your agricultural insights and for personal growth and development, equipping you with skills that extend well beyond the world of agriculture. 

The 4-H Ag Ambassador Project cultivates leadership skills in youth passionate about animal science, veterinary studies, and agriculture. 6th-12th grade students will gain knowledge to educate their communities on crucial food systems topics. As an Ag Ambassador, you will:

• Attend virtual workshops building your expertise in several areas
• Partner with teen leaders across Arizona to exchange best practices
• Plan and facilitate engaging agriculture-focused workshops for youth groups and community members
• Ignite excitement for careers in agriculture, from farmers to veterinarians to engineers!

Connecting virtually and in-person, Ag Ambassadors lead their counties and tribes toward agricultural literacy and involvement. The workshop curriculum addresses specific regional needs, from water access in tribal areas to urban gardening.

We invite motivated teens to apply for this meaningful leadership role.

Step into the future of farming with our Cross-Reality project. Imagine building and managing a farm that you can control right from your phone! Experience the fascinating blend of virtual and real-world agriculture as you cultivate crops, manage resources, and observe the impact of your decisions. 

Embark on a groundbreaking journey into the future of agriculture through our Cross-Reality project. This innovative program fuses virtual and hands-on farming, allowing you to construct and manage your farm from your laptop. Make strategic decisions about resources, technology implementations, and cultivation practices - then see the tangible impacts on real and simulated agricultural environments. Whether testing drought-resilient crops in the virtual realm before planting or experimenting with aeroponics in the physical greenhouse, Cross-Reality revolutionizes the learning process. Immerse yourself in this blended model of imagination and action. Through an interactive interface, you will gain both digital abilities and core farming competencies. Cross-reality redefines not only the farming experience itself but also the future of agricultural education and innovation. Join us as we cultivate the next generation of growers, engineers, and problem solvers building a brighter tomorrow for food systems and environmental resilience alike!

Resources, publications and curriculum

• Facilitator and Student Guide for the AR Floating Farm Project
• Cross Reality (XR) Activities for Community Engagement

Open up to exploring potential careers involving drones. Gain insights into the rules governing drone usage and recreational flying regulations. The programs guide them through the steps for obtaining the TRUST certification, a valuable drone aviation credential. The Drone Project encourages interaction among participants as they navigate the exciting world of drones. 

4-H STEM YOUniversity is excited to introduce an innovative new program - the 4-H Drone Project! This initiative engages youth in hands-on drone education, building both technical skills and future career opportunities.

Through the 4-H Drone Project, students will learn the rules and regulations for recreational drone operation. They will be guided on preparation for taking the TRUST certification exam, the official test needed to fly drones legally. Going beyond basics, participants will also explore potential careers utilizing drones across diverse industries.

Throughout their experience, youth will get to pilot drones and apply their new expertise with these exciting technologies. Just as importantly, students will connect with fellow passionate aviators from counties and tribes statewide. The 4-H Drone Project opens up the burgeoning world of drones to Arizona’s next generation in an interactive, collaborative environment. Kids gain technical abilities and professional exposure while forming connections in the 4-H community centered around STEM. Let your aspirations soar with this innovative new program.

Introducing an innovative new 4-H opportunity - the Greenhouse Sustainable Energy Engineering Design (SEED) Project! This hands-on, problem-based learning experience allows students to delve into environmental design, green energy, and engineering fundamentals while building their scale model greenhouse. Over 60 hours and 10 weeks, participants will gain exposure to 3D modeling, architectural drafting, electrical circuitry, solar power, wind energy, water harvesting, and more. Students will apply math, science, and engineering principles through practical building challenges and collaborations with peers across Arizona virtually or in person.

Immerse into the engaging, hands-on problem-solving activities. Delve into the fascinating realms of space, lunar, and planetary sciences. Through interactive and educational initiatives, enhance your understanding of scientific disciplines and build camaraderie in shared exploration that extends beyond geographical boundaries.

We are excited to announce that 4-H STEM YOUniversity was the recipient of a generous grant from the International Space Station National Laboratory (ISSNL) in partnership with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS). This grant funded an exciting initiative - the "4-H Multi-State Space Exploration Consortium (4-H MSSEC)" program.

Twelve students from across Arizona were selected as 4-H Space Ambassadors to join the first-ever 4-H Mission Command Team. As part of this unique program, the students received extensive training in space, lunar, and planetary science curriculum. Equipped with this knowledge, they facilitated hands-on workshops in their local counties to get youth in their communities excited about space exploration!

The 4-H Space Ambassadors also collaborated with Mission Command Teams from Florida, Illinois, and Indiana to share ideas and workshop activities. In addition, they partnered with the Arizona NASA Space Grant Consortium (AZSGC) and the University of Arizona's Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) club on various space-themed projects throughout the year-long program.

The highlight was undoubtedly attending the 3-day "Go for Launch!" summer camp organized by the nonprofit Higher Orbits. This action-packed camp allowed students to design experiments for the International Space Station and participate in simulated astronaut training and missions. They made friends from across the country who shared their passion for space science and exploration.

Judging from the delighted faces and stellar feedback we received, our 4-H Space Ambassadors had an absolute blast in this program! They gained so much knowledge and so many hands-on skills related to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). We can't wait to see these students continue to thrive and eventually pursue amazing careers in the space industry!

Contribute your STEM skills and enthusiasm to benfit you county and community. Not only will you briger the gap between theoretical learning and real-world application, but you'll also receive training in STEM activities, leadership principles, and civic engagement. This unique role not only allows you to impart knowledge, but also helps with personal and professional growth.

The 4-H STEM Ambassador Project empowers 6th-12th grade students to develop leadership abilities while making a difference in their communities through STEM education and outreach. As a STEM Ambassador, you will:

• Attend virtual training workshops to build skills in areas like leadership, civic engagement, and STEM activities facilitation
• Collaborate with teen leaders across Arizona counties and tribal nations
• Plan and deliver STEM workshops for youth and community members in your county
• Help foster passion for science, technology, engineering and math in your region!

Over the past three years, STEM Ambassadors have focused workshops on topics ranging from space exploration to environmental sustainability. Moving forward, 2023-2024 curriculum will equip ambassadors to address pressing needs in their specific counties.

We encourage all teens passionate about STEM and community service to apply for this high-impact, rewarding leadership development program! Together, we educate and empower future generations.