The 2020 National 4-H STEM Challenge (formerly National Youth Science Day) will be celebrated in October.  The 2020 Challenge, Mars Base Camp, is designed for youth ages 8-14 and develops STEM skills such as mechanical engineering, physics, computer science, and agriculture. All Air Force Bases are highly encouraged to participate and will receive a kit to complete the challenge, thanks to grant funds. All other branches are welcome to join in on the fun, but we will not be able to provide kits this year to all service branches. To learn more about the kit, staff training, and an incentive for participating please continue to read.

NEW this year!  National 4-H Council is offering two ways to purchase the STEM Challenge materials:

  • A family kit, for up to 4 youth for $15.95
  • An educator kit, for up to 12 youth for $23.95
  • Air Force Bases, we will communicate with you about delivery

Thanks to Toyota’s sponsorship, you can use the code THANKTOYOTA at checkout and receive $5 off.  This is a limited-time offer, so order quickly.  Kits can be purchased from Shop 4-H now and will be shipped the week of August 3. 

You can also download the youth guide, facilitator guide, and social media graphics from the Kit & Marketing Resources webpage. 

GA 4-H STEM Training

Georgia 4-H will be offering a National 4-H STEM Challenge Training on September 14 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm via Zoom.  Anyone is welcome to join in the fun by using the login information below:

Topic: 2020 National 4-H STEM Challenge Training  Time: Sep 14, 20120 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)   Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/7065423644?pwd=YUZrbG40UzA3cEU4WEJNTExJVkhBdz09   Meeting ID: 706 542 3644 Password: science   One tap mobile +13126266799,,7065423644# US (Chicago) +16468769923,,7065423644# US (New York)   Dial by your location         +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)         +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)         +1 253 215 8782 US         +1 301 715 8592 US         +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)         +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 706 542 3644 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abH3XCQtHJ  

Incentive to Participate in Training

The Georgia 4-H Military partnership has kits from previous years. While these are previous kits they are still useful kits for teaching STEM to youth and are unused. We will be giving away previous STEM Challenge kits to military base youth centers and/or to school-age programs while supplies last to staff who participate in the Georgia 4-H STEM Challenge training. Email Laura Goss at laurwalt@uga.edu to register and to receive your free kit. We look forward to seeing you at this years STEM Challenge Training! Please share with frontline staff.

Other Training Opportunities

There are many upcoming virtual professional development opportunities to learn about the 2020 NYSD challenge.  Offered by National 4-H Council and Virginia 4-H, the following webinars are scheduled:

More information about each of these webinars (including registration) can be found using the links above. 

Platform Issues?

Does your base not allow zoom? Are you having a hard time engaging in training due to platform issues? We are happy to help and work with individual forts, garrisons, and bases to make sure staff are able to engage in this training and other useful training throughout the year. We can work on hosting a training on your preferred platform or work on sharing recordings. Better yet leadership can connect with Laura Goss to request a virtual in-service for your staff for STEM Challenge or another training. We are here to support you!

Volunteers Supporting the 2020 STEM Challenge

Volunteers, if you are interested in participating in the training, leading the activity at your local base/fort, or with another youth group contact Laura Goss. We are happy to support you as you support your local military families. Of course, you are always welcome to complete the challenge just with your family too.