Go Green! Planet 4-H: Part One

Video introducing the Sanilac County Go Green! Planet 4-H Project featuring a Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) project. Go Green! Planet 4-H provides a real-life opportunity for 4-H youth and volunteers to learn more about alternative energy, including biofuels, wind energy, solar power, geothermal energy, tidal power, and designing a "green" building site. The end-result will be an architectural model (rather than an actual building), and youth will have an opportunity to work with a local architect, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, local schools, as well as other key community members and organizations to complete the project.

This video features an introduction of the project by a member of the Sanilac County 4-H Green Squad, and a site visit to actual property located in Port Sanilac, Michigan on Lake Huron. Local architect, Orin Campbell, leads youth and volunteers through the Go Green! Property to learn from its natural features, ecosystems, and begin to look at the design phase of the project. Steven Sendek, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Fisheries Biologist, discusses the importance of Michigans fresh water resources, and the need for careful consideration of man made impacts on Lake Hurons environment and ecosystems. Youth will use information gathered from the site visit to begin building Planet 4-H, and learn more about architecture, computer aided design technology, potential job opportunities in the green economy, green building techniques and materials, as well as alternative energies.

Sanilac County 4-Hers are joining youth from across the nation who are taking part in the national 4-H mandate to create One Million New Scientists by the year 2013.
The Sanilac County 4-H Green Squad is joining the cause to help create more interest in science as the United States is falling behind other nations in developing a future workforce of science, engineers and technology experts.
With only 18 percent of US high school seniors proficient in science and 5 percent of college graduates earning science, engineering, or technology degrees, it is clear that the US is behind the 66 percent of Japanese graduates and 59 percent of Chinese graduates. With current scientists and engineers retiring in record numbers, America is facing a workforce crisis in its ability to keep up with the increasing demand for SET professionals.

Throughout this school year, Sanilac County 4-H Green Squad members will be engaged in hands-on science experiments to stimulate their interest in the science fields and to encourage critical thinking skills and the scientific process within each student. Orin Campbell, Steve Sendek, teachers from local schools, the Sanilac County Master Gardeners, Western Tree Farms, and 4-H Educator, Melanie Chiodini, will be leading the students through their SET journey this year.

For more information on Sanilac County 4-H, please call 810.648.2515, visit our blog on http://www.SanilacGreenProjects.blogspot.com, or visit our website at: http://www.msue.msu.edu/portal/default.cfm?pageset_id=28618&page_id=14854...

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Go Green Introduction
• alternative energy
• wind power
• solar power
• hydropower
• wave power
• fuel cell car
• 4-H youth projects
• green building
• green architecture
• SET
• Science
• Engineering
• Technology
• Michigan State University
• MSU Extension
• MSUE

[ruemenap]

Great job MJChiodini! This is a wonderful video giving a good overview of 4-H Go Green!