4-H STEM Challenge Mars Base Camp
About the 2020 4‑H STEM Challenge
Mars Base Camp
The race to land humans on Mars is on! The 2020 4‑H STEM Challenge will explore sending a mission to Mars with the activity, Mars Base Camp. Developed by Google and Virginia Cooperative Extension, Mars Base Camp is a collection of activities that teaches kids ages 8-14 STEM skills like mechanical engineering, physics, computer science, and agriculture.
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How to participate
Below are a few ways to ensure young people everywhere can participate in the 2020 STEM Challenge:
- Online Activity: Youth can participate with Insight from Mars, the online portion of the 2020 STEM Challenge.
- Educator Kit: Includes materials for 12 youth to participate in the offline activities at the same time. Kits can be used in spaces where physical distancing can be followed.
- Family-sized Kit: Includes materials for 1-4 youth to participate in the offline activities at the same time from inside the home.
Mars Base Camp youth & facilitator guides
Download youth and facilitator guides and social media graphics in English and Spanish below. Be sure to check back soon for more Mars Base Camp resources.
Mars Base Camp webinars
Facilitators, educators, and parents can prepare for this year’s STEM Challenge by attending one of the training webinars below. Learn more about the Mars Base Camp kit and how to adapt activities to accommodate for both in-person and virtual learning.
STEM Challenge Overview for Educators + Kit Unboxing
Get ready to head to Mars Basecamp with the 2020 4‑H STEM Challenge unboxing webinar. During this webinar we will unbox the 2020 Mars Basecamp Kit, talk about how the kit works, and introduce marketing resources.
We also will talk about how to reach audiences with the kit and introduce new diverse ways to use the kit.
Creating and Adapting Programming for Virtual and Hybrid Delivery
With COVID 19 changing how we deliver programs, one of the biggest question that is asked is how to do I deliver these new programs virtually or in a hybrid approach? This session will focus on learning about different ways to develop programs virtually, adapting programs to meet the needs of the audience both virtually and hybrid, and evaluating the learning experiences.
STEM Challenge overview for educators + kit unboxing
Get ready to head to Mars Basecamp with the 2020 4‑H STEM Challenge unboxing webinar. During this webinar we will unbox the 2020 Mars Basecamp Kit, talk about how the kit works, and introduce marketing resources. We also will talk about how to reach audiences with the kit and introduce new diverse ways to use the kit.
Creating and adapting programming for virtual and hybrid delivery
With COVID 19 changing how we deliver programs, one of the biggest question that is asked is how to do I deliver these new programs virtually or in a hybrid approach? This session will focus on learning about different ways to develop programs virtually, adapting programs to meet the needs of the audience both virtually and hybrid, and evaluating the learning experiences.
Quick activity instructional videos
Mars Base Camp overview
Landing zone surveyor
Red Planet Odyssey part 1
Red Planet Odyssey part 2
Crop curiosity
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