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It’s only April, and we are already getting excited for the 2017 4‑H National Youth Science Day Challenge, Incredible Wearables, which will take place October 4, 2017!

This year’s challenge was developed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and incorporates the fast-evolving field of wearable technology, teaching kids to not only use technology but create it. During the innovative, hands-on project, these future engineers must work together to design, build and refine a wearable health-tracking device that is easy-to-use and aesthetically appealing.

Ready to start preparing for your local 4‑H NYSD event? Kits are now available for pre-order on the 4‑H Mall at the discounted price of $23.95! Each kit can be used by up to 10 kids at once and are completely re-usable.

Want to learn more about the 2017 4‑H NYSD Challenge? Check out the video to see what’s in store!

Looking for the latest in 4 H National Youth Science Day news? Visit our website to sign up for our monthly 4‑H NYSD newsletter. You’ll be the first to know about exclusive offers, receive exciting STEM content, and much more!

Thank you to 4‑H NYSD National Partners, HughesNet, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Cellular, Signature Partner DuPont Pioneer, and Official Partner CA Technologies.

Special thanks to SparkFun Electronics for supporting the development of the Incredible Wearables challenge.

“Dream big…and I mean really big!”

This was 4-H alumna Peggy Whitson’s advice to youth from the 4-H Clubs of Houston and Hartsfield Elementary School in Texas during a twenty-minute interview on March 3rd, 2017. And such advice is not to be taken lightly when you consider that it was given by someone 250 miles above the Earth’s surface traveling at 17,500 miles per hour.

You see, Peggy Whitson is an astronaut currently living on the International Space Station.

“It is important for young people to dream big,” Whitson told the 4-H’ers. “And I mean really big. Think about things you might not be able to imagine yourself doing. And then imagine yourself there. And then pursue it as a goal. Because you can accomplish it!”

And if there’s anyone who has followed that advice, it’s Whitson herself. Not only was she the first female commander of the International Space Station, but she was also the first female Chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA, the organization’s most senior leadership position for active astronauts. Dr. Whitson is currently tied for most spacewalks by a female astronaut in history (a record she’ll break during her current or next mission), and will soon hold the record for most days in space for a United States astronaut.

When asked how she feels about breaking records, Whitson told the 4-H’ers, “I think setting records in exploration is very important. It shows that we’re advancing in our capabilities.” She went on to add, “I hope that young people, in your futures, will surpass all the records that you encounter.”

Talk about a dreaming big.

Throughout the course of the interview, Whitson answered questions on everything from her education to her research to her career as an astronaut, and of course, to her time as a 4-H’er.

So meaningful was her time in 4-H, that when asked about her most memorable experience, she didn’t need a moment to think about it.

“That’s an easy question,” she said with a smile, before telling her interviewers that 4-H helped her overcome a childhood fear of public speaking. From speaking to her local club to speaking in space, Whitson credited 4-H for helping her conquer her fear of public speaking, turning it into a skill that would help her throughout her career.

The interview is a fascinating look into the lives of people who, quite literally, live at the edge of the world. At the end of her interview, Whitson encouraged the youth interviewing her to “look for questions, and try to answer them.”

After all, it’s worked well for her.

To watch the interview, click here.

Raise Your Hand as a 4-H Alumni!
Peggy Whitson shows her pride as a 4-H alum; now it’s time for you to share yours! Raise your hand and identify as a 4-H Alumni: 4-h.org/RaiseYourHand
From a young age, Michelle Munson loved learning. As she was growing up, her parents encouraged her to explore her interests in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) both at school and in 4‑H. Her experiences gave her the desire and confidence to pursue an undergraduate degree and two graduate degrees in STEM subjects and to launch her own software company, Aspera.

I had a chance to speak with Michelle about women in STEM and how early experiences can build the framework for later success.

When did you first know STEM was the path for you? Is there a particular moment or experience that sparked your interest?

Michelle Munson (MM): There wasn’t a single moment. There were many, many moments, both at school and in 4‑H. My parents were focused—not just on learning, but also on the practical applications of learning. When I was as young as seven, my mom helped me make some very advanced clothing designs that I would sew from scratch. We also did computing projects—when I was in fourth grade, my mom and I developed a database to keep track of what I was doing in 4‑H.

I stayed in science and engineering because I loved math and science and saw that they had a major impact on the world. I also wanted to create new things. My dad is a farmer who grows crops and raises animals, and my mom is a professor. They both emphasized the value of applying my knowledge to create things, so I ended up choosing engineering because it’s the application. I started a software company where we make new products from the ground up—that’s what I do for my job.

Tell me about the challenges you face working in STEM.

MM: I think the number-one challenge of STEM is it’s hard. The joy comes from mastering difficult subject matter. The problems that we tackle at Aspera are hard. There are no clear answers. The counterpoint is the joy of succeeding when you’re able to advance your own knowledge and reach solutions to complex problems.

Did you face challenges as a woman in STEM?

MM: I think that any challenges were hugely mitigated for me because of my environment. I started doing STEM-related projects when I was young, and quite honestly there was no discussion of being a girl. It just didn’t enter the conversation. I think one of the great things about 4‑H is that it is very balanced in that way. Girls and boys do the same projects—they do them together—and moms and dads are equally involved.

How did the skills you learned in 4‑H influence your career?

MM: The most important skills I learned were public speaking and leadership. Every moment of every day, everything I do relies on being able to communicate effectively, both in speaking and writing. In 4‑H, we did so much public speaking, as well as a lot of writing, to record our projects. I also had leadership roles the entire time I was in 4‑H.

When did you decide entrepreneurship would be your path?

MM: I didn’t make a decision to start a company until I was about thirty. But I think 4‑H gave me many of the skills I needed, as well as the courage and the comfort level with independent projects. I’d been doing independent projects in 4‑H since I was seven, and building a company is very much like that. You use all of yourself—all skills and all aspects. You form something that no one has ever done before. You have to implement your own plan. It’s typically ridden with lots of challenges you have to overcome. It’s very similar to many 4‑H projects.

That’s the essence of leadership, learning to work with people in your own peer group to get things accomplished. And I believe 4‑H does that better than anything in the world.

How do we get more girls and minorities in STEM? What barriers are there?

MM: We have to get young people involved as early as possible. This is where 4‑H projects are so wonderful. You learn the subject in a practical way from a very young age, and it helps you develop an interest in it. 4‑H has no limits to the types of projects you can do in all aspects of science. They help young women develop a sense of independence and counter all of the tendencies that deter confidence in science and math.

How can we get young women more involved in leadership roles?

MM: The same way—4‑H does something very special: it asks young people to start leading their peers when they’re seven or eight years old. You’re responsible for sending out the e-mail or making the phone call to organize the meeting or project, then standing up at the meeting and presenting some information and playing a role in that meeting. To me, that’s the most formative thing. From an early age, you develop a sense of self and self-confidence, and it can build on itself as you get older into middle school and high school. That’s the essence of leadership, learning to work with people in your own peer group to get things accomplished. And I believe 4‑H does that better than anything in the world.

What advice would you give young girls or women starting in STEM?

MM: Stay in the field. Don’t stop. It’s too fantastic to deviate from. And enjoy it. What’s great about science is there’s no limit to what you can learn and there’s no limit to what you can do with it in your career. It’s the foundation of society now, and its practical impact is unlimited.

For two consecutive years, U.S. Cellular has proudly supported National 4‑H Council and 4‑H National Youth Science Day (NYSD). It is a wonderful way to introduce young people to the wide range of ways that Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education is used every day in hundreds of careers. When our associates spend time with 4‑H youth in our local communities, our hope is that the kids see how what they are learning today can lead to fun and interesting careers down the road.

In my engineering role at U.S. Cellular, I get to work on many unique and challenging projects, and it’s the part of my job that I love the most. Wireless technology moves so fast that there is always something new to learn or a problem to solve. And while you may think that we engineers are sitting by ourselves at a computer all day, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I get to work with amazing people every day, and we combine our STEM knowledge together to overcome challenges that we face – all with the goal of ensuring that our customers have access to a fast data network and that their phones work when and where they need it.

USCellular-NYSD-Lori-Dawson-blog

 

This year’s 4‑H NYSD theme of Drone Discovery is especially relevant in the wireless industry. As the industry learns more about the capability of drones in real-world applications, we are watching closely to determine how we can implement this technology into our work. Possibilities include using drones to assess damage to cell sites when roads are closed due to severe weather, testing network signals on high-rise buildings, and routine tower inspections. As someone who owns two drones, I am thrilled that 4‑H youth are learning about them now, and I can’t wait to see all of the new ways they will show us how they can be used in the future.

Over the past month, U.S. Cellular associates have worked with hundreds of 4‑H youth at eight 4‑H NYSD Drone Discovery events, and seeing the creativity and energy that the young people bring has been very inspiring. One of the most fun parts of working with drones is just seeing what you can make them do. Having young people with a strong background in STEM education is critical to the ongoing evolution of how we create and use technology, including drones.

U.S. Cellular at 2016 4‑H National Youth Science Day

Tony Frank is the president of Colorado State University, Chancellor of the Colorado State University System, and a 4‑H alum. He had some of his earliest experiences with STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects in his local 4‑H chapter in rural Illinois, before going on to earn a college degree in biology and a doctorate in veterinary medicine. He also had some of his first leadership experiences in 4‑H, and now leads a university with more than 29,000 students.

I was pleased to have the opportunity to speak with him about 4‑H when he was growing up, and where it’s going today.

 

You were in 4‑H in the 1960s and 70s. What kinds of things were 4‑H’ers doing then?

Tony Frank (TF): A lot of livestock and farm projects. I did cattle and hogs, some veterinary science projects—which wound up becoming my career when I went on to vet school after college. And as I went through 4‑H, I held a lot of officer positions—secretary treasurer, president, vice president.

Did you learn any skills in those 4‑H leadership roles that you use today as president of Colorado State University?

TF: Virtually everything you need to know as a leader you experience in those 4‑H offices. As secretary, you learn the importance of getting other people involved to get work done, and as treasurer you learn the importance of the trust that comes with dealing with other people’s money and funds. As the vice president, you learn to put other people first, and then as the president you learn what it’s like to represent a group of people.

At the end of the day, it’s those basic things—how do you get people involved, how do you make sure everyone’s voice is heard, how do you represent your constituents faithfully—those are the things good leaders have in every organization.


I’m happy to hear that, because developing leadership skills is still very important in 4‑H. We still have those roles and try to create more leadership positions so that more young people can learn critical life skills.

TF: I don’t think I realized at that time what I was getting out of those 4‑H leadership roles. I think without realizing it, I was part of one of the greatest leadership programs out there, and that’s 4‑H.


Did you learn anything else in 4‑H that is relevant to your life today?

TF: One of the first science-oriented projects I ever did was a 4‑H project. It was keeping track of data in a livestock project. There were many pieces of that which came to replicate my tasks later on as a researcher.


As an educator, do you think 4‑H does a good job of getting kids interested in STEM?

TF:  4‑H finds exciting ways to draw young people into STEM. Those might be animal-related projects, rocketry projects or robotics projects. Those are all great ways to get young people involved, but the important things are the underpinnings. Not only are there a lot of job opportunities in STEM, but it’s also a critical aspect of what we do as a country. It’s critical to our global economic competitiveness.


Were you thinking about any of these things back when you were 18 and in 4‑H? What was important to you then?

TF: The world was a much smaller place in general back in the late 60s and early 70s. I certainly didn’t have much of a worldview. If I were to tell you what my greatest goal was, it was probably to get an 8-track player for my pickup truck.

Today, 18-year-olds are a lot more focused on their future and more connected to a much larger world. I think 4‑H helps open the world up for a lot of kids.


What did you wish you knew when you were 18?

TF: I wish I had known that there were so many opportunities out there. There were so many more things that I could have participated in through 4‑H, like state-level leadership activities, the national organization, and even international opportunities.  Those things add a great deal of value, and I sure wish I knew those opportunities were there.


As the head of a university, you work with plenty of young people. What advice do you give your students who are 18?

TF: First, take advantage of all the opportunities that are out there. There are always more opportunities than you realize at 18.  Just dig in and immerse yourself; get involved in as many things as you can because they’ll all benefit you.

And secondly, know that there’s a lot of time ahead of you. I think that there’s a sense of urgency sometimes. At 18. you don’t realize that you have a very long life ahead of you. So while you should immerse yourself in your opportunities, you should also take risks and try things. Some things won’t work out, but you’ll have a lot of chances to redirect. Over the course of your life you can have so many opportunities to serve in leadership roles in your community. You’ll find the right place to make a difference.


Anything else you want to add about your 4‑H experience?

TF: I want to thank all the volunteer leaders. They made a big difference in my life and I know in the lives of so many other 4‑H’ers.

October 5th was a great day for young True Leaders in STEM as students participated in the 2016 4‑H National Youth Science Day (4‑H NYSD). Located at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., students from Maryland, Virginia and D.C. became engineering experts for the day as they had fun with drones. In case you missed it, we’re sharing our favorite moments and photos from the day.

To kick off the day’s events, STEM, government and university leaders and experts gathered for the annual 4‑H NYSD VIP Breakfast, hosted by 4‑H alumna Glenda Humiston, vice president for the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. During a new a segment of the breakfast, National 4‑H Council presented the 2016 4‑H NYSD national partners, HughesNet, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Cellular, with the Inaugural Spark Awards, sparking an interest in STEM for nearly 100,000 young people annually across the country.

The morning’s featured speakers were on hand to share stories of impact, inspiration and vision. Texas 4‑H youth and STEM Ambassador Francisco Garcia shared his powerful story of perseverance and how 4‑H empowered him to grow and succeed. We were also joined by STEM influencer and host of the Discovery Channel show, Myth Busters, Kari Byron, who shared her passion for science and STEM education. The 4‑H NYSD panel discussion, “Breaking the STEM Barrier: A Youth-Led Perspective,” included STEM experts and advocates with insightful point-of-views on the future of STEM and youth interest. Panelists included:

  • Alexa Maille, New York State 4‑H STEM Specialist at Cornell University Cooperative Extension
  • Elizabeth Dougherty, Director of Inventor Education, Outreach, and Recognition at the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • Scott Paddy, Product Development Engineer at Ford Motor Company and proud 4‑H parent.
  • Thaddeus Hughes, student at Rose Hulman Institute of Engineering and the 2016 4‑H STEM Youth in Action winner
  • Xavier Harding, technology editor for Popular Science magazine

At the conclusion of the breakfast, attendees joined youth as they performed the 2017 4‑H NYSD Challenge, Drone Discovery. Youth split up in rotating groups to experience the three-part challenge, building their own foam drones and putting them to the test. Youth were also able to get hands-on at the special Drone Zone, with real drones provided by national sponsor DJI.

We were also honored to have two special guests to address youth during the event. U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith shared her perspective on the importance of providing STEM education and experiences to young people in America. Drone expert Brett Velicovich gave exciting demonstrations of his drones, along with giving away a few drones for the kids to take home.

Youth left with an appreciation and understanding of drones, and how they help solve real-world problems. The event was a success and it’s all because of the tremendous support of our partners, sponsors and 4‑H community.

Check out additional photos, videos and more from the national 4‑H NYSD event and be sure to follow the hashtag, #4HNYSD, for photos from local events nationwide!

 

The date is set and the countdown is on for the 2017 4‑H Youth in Action Awards Program! These awards are the highest honors National 4‑H Council grants to outstanding 4‑H’ers who embody 4‑H youth empowerment and leadership.

So what does it mean to be a 4‑H Youth in Action recipient? Since being honored, our 2016 winners have received once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in their fields of interest to learn, mentor, inform and inspire others to be leaders in their communities through action and service.

Get reacquainted with the 2016 4‑H Youth in Action winners, Ru, Thad, Lexie and Jacob, and see what they’ve been up to since being honored.

Ruwanthi Ekanayake – National Winner

“Stepping forward into my future, I have an unlikely confidence in my future—a confidence that I have 4‑H to thank.”

Ruwanthi (Ru) Ekanayake, through University of California Cooperative Extension, is the 2016 winner in the Healthy Living pillar, sponsored by Molina Healthcare. As a member of the National 4‑H Healthy Living Ambassador team, Ru has been instrumental at bringing 4‑H’ers across the country together. She has also launched The Fourth H blog and created a Healthy Living Youth Summit for nine counties in Southern California.

Since her win as the Healthy Living and National winner, Ru has continued her work as an advocate for health and wellness. As the National Healthy Living youth spokesperson, she participated in a national 2017 4‑H Youth in Action webinar, sharing her experience and journey as a 4‑H Youth in Action Award recipient.

Thaddeus Hughes

“I am blessed, through 4‑H, with the ability to connect with other youth that share a passion and vision for a better world.”

Thaddeus (Thad) Hughes, through University of Illinois Cooperative Extension, is the recipient of the 2016 STEM pillar award, sponsored by HughesNet. Thad has been a mentor for FIRST Lego League and Illinois State Robotics Competition teams for four years. Over the course of his work in 4‑H, he has helped to introduce STEM and robotics to more than 6,000 youth across Illinois.

In the past few months, Thad has continued to share and strengthen his passion for STEM and robotics. He received hands-on experience as an intern at HughesNet, where he served as a mentor/facilitator of their exclusive 4‑H National Youth Science Day Preview Event. He also appeared in a segment for the 2016 American Graduate Day broadcast, where he was joined by NASA astronaut and 4‑H alumna Peggy Whitson.

Lexie Lerblance

“I can’t wait to encourage our youth to work to obtain whatever their dreams may be! All it takes is someone to ask us to step up and be a leader.” 

The winner of the 2016 Citizenship pillar is Lexie Lerblance, through Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension. As her 4‑H Project of Excellence, Lexie helped create TLC Wig Closet, a non-profit that provides wigs, head coverings, bras and prosthesis for women suffering from breast cancer. Through her 4‑H experience, she has spoken at the Pink Ribbon Luncheon and gave presentations to the Federal Board of Education.

Since being honored as the Citizenship pillar winner, Lexie has continued her work in serving her community. She attended the 4‑H Citizenship Washington Focus with the Oklahoma delegation, where she learned what it really means to be a good citizen. Additionally, she was inducted into the Oklahoma 4‑H Hall of Fame, ranked number one in her state.

Jacob Shuman

“I hope to motivate those with learning difficulties to join 4‑H, to reach for that brass ring and attain success.”

Jacob Shuman, through Ohio State University Cooperative Extension, is the 2016 Agriculture & Animal Science winner. He earned this award by creating TEACH B’s (Teens Educating Adults and Children about Honey Bees), a program that educates people about the importance of honeybees in pollinating crops and the need to help them survive in changing climates.

Jacob’s passion for bee care and awareness has since grown tremendously since his Youth in Action win. He had the opportunity to visit the Bayer CropScience facility and took in their bee exhibit and greenhouse.

Learn more about the 2017 4‑H Youth in Action Awards Program and how to apply: www.4‑H.org/YouthinAction

 

HughesNet and 4‑H continue to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education through 4‑H National Youth Science Day when it kicks off across the country in October.

This year’s theme, Drone Discovery, designed by Cornell University Cooperative Extension, offers youth an opportunity to learn the engineering concepts behind fixed and rotary-winged drones. They will design and build a camera-equipped foam glider to complete a specific task, and create, code and “fly” a drone in an online simulator.

HughesNet partners with 4‑H to promote STEM education and is a 4‑H NYSD sponsor for the fourth year in row. Thaddeus Hughes, winner of the 2016 4‑H Youth in Action STEM Pillar Winner and 2016 Hughes summer intern, led a group of students from the Montgomery and Frederick County 4‑H clubs through an exclusive preview of the Drone Discovery challenge at Hughes headquarters in Maryland, on August 3.

The Drone Discovery challenge teaches youth the basic forces of controlled flight; concepts such as payload and remote sensing; coding and programming an unmanned vehicle; and how drones can solve complex real-world challenges such as identifying invasive plants in a corn field or tracking the path of a forest fire.

In addition to 4‑H NYSD, HughesNet sponsors 4‑H programs at their headquarters such as National Engineers Week, the 4‑H Youth in Action STEM Pillar and HughesNet sponsored STEM days at 4-­H summer camps. This partnership brings STEM learning experiences to young people across the country, including the same communities 4‑H serves where resources for interactive STEM learning may be limited.

“HughesNet and 4‑H share a passion for STEM education,” said Peter Gulla, senior vice president of marketing at Hughes. “Access to quality science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education shouldn’t be determined by where you live. Kids all across the U.S. should be exposed to STEM. Not only is it important for the development of our youth, but it’s also important for our country’s future. Our passion towards STEM education is the core driver of our initiatives with 4-­H. As the nation’s premier youth development organization, 4‑H has a long history of leading innovative programs, and we are proud to support the work they are doing.”

For more information on HughesNet’s STEM partnership with 4‑H, please visit: http://www.hughesnet.com/4h

Since 2008, 4‑H National Youth Science Day has engaged millions of youth around the world in exciting and innovative STEM learning and experiences, from wind power to robotics to rocketry. This year, the 4‑H NYSD challenge is soaring to new heights with the 2016 National Science Challenge, Drone Discovery, developed by Cornell University Cooperative Extension.

This year’s hands-on science challenge explores the science behind drones and how they are being used to solve real world problems. Youth will learn everything from flight dynamics and aircraft types, to remote sensing and flight control, as well as safety and regulations.

While the official 4‑H NYSD event takes place on October 5, 2016 in Washington, D.C., clubs, groups and schools around the world are also inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders, all taking part in what is known as the world’s largest, youth-led science event.

Participating in 4‑H NYSD is easy:

  • Purchase a 4‑H NYSD Challenge Kit. Each kit includes all the necessary items needed to participate in the challenge, including youth and facilitator guide books and experiment materials. Kits are available for purchase now on the 4‑H Mall.
  • Register your event. Simply create a 4‑H NYSD membership account to receive helpful resources and materials and see your local event showcased on our national 4‑H NYSD map.
  • Join the conversation on social media. Share your event photos and videos using the hashtag #4HNYSD. Your event could be featured nationally!

So what are you waiting for? Put what you know about engineering, drones and flight into action. Purchase your kit, register your event, and get ready to take flight in this worldwide science phenomenon!

On April 19th, the Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) celebrated its 20th anniversary by launching its Reverse the Decline, Increase the Time initiative. The effort builds on the conservation work DCF has been doing over the last two decades, and brings focus to two specific impact areas: 1) reversing the decline of 10 animals including African elephants; butterflies; coral reefs; tamarin monkeys; great apes; sea turtles; sharks and rays; cranes; rhinos; and tigers and 2) increasing the time kids spend in nature to inspire them to care for the planet.

At 4‑H, we are proud to partner with DCF for the third year to empower urban youth in key market areas to explore nature and the outdoors through the 4‑H Connecting Youth to Nature program. Currently, we are working in California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. These urban youth explore how organisms interact with the environment and learn how to address environmental issues, such as air and water quality, and how to sustain the ecology.

This initiative gives youth who rarely get the opportunity to spend time outdoors access to local, hands-on, outdoor nature experiences and projects. Not only does it help kids feel a connection with natural world, but it gives them the skills and experience they need to help make an impact in their communities.

Last year, 4‑H Connecting Youth to Nature programs exposed more than 13,000 youth, families and volunteers to the joys of nature and the outdoors. Through camps, field trips, afterschool programs, in-school projects, and teen-led enrichment programs, urban youth experience nature first-hand in order to gain a greater appreciation for the ecosystems and nature surrounding their communities.

Some kids are quick to say they do not like the outdoors. Others struggle to give up their phone to explore nature. But nearly all the kids who experience nature through 4‑H discover a passion for being outdoors in nature, regardless of perceived interest. 4‑H Connecting Youth to Nature helps kids discover the outdoors in a number of ways—from community cleanup efforts to planting native plants, and from removing invasive species to assessing habitat quality. For example, in Anaheim 4‑H helped urban youth grow milkweed plants in green houses as well as maintain bug hotels and bird houses. In New York City, 4‑H introduced youth to city parks where they planted flower bulbs and cared for trees in their own neighborhoods. In Oahu, 4‑H’ers learned how recycling preserves the state’s natural resources and pristine environment.

And 4‑H Connecting Youth to Nature goes beyond just helping young people be aware of environmental issues. It also helps them understand that they can make a difference protecting nature not only in their communities, but in the world. In fact, as a result of the program, 90 percent of participating youth said they felt good when they are outdoors, 88 percent said they care more about the environment, and 78 percent said they feel it’s their responsibility to protect nature.