With support from the National 4-H Council, MSU Extension will be expanding its successful Michigan 4-H Tech Wizards program to five new communities this year. This expansion will bring the opportunity to spend time with caring adult role models to hundreds of youth in underserved regions of the state as they work alongside their mentors to explore science and technology while developing important life skills.
4-H Tech Wizards is a small-group mentoring program that already operating in Macomb, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa and Wayne counties. The program matches three to four youth with a caring adult mentor, who meets with them once a week to build relationships, develop life skills, and explore science, technology, engineering, art and math projects such as inventing a robot or producing a stop-motion animation video. As a result, youth mentees develop creative and critical thinking skills, as well as an interest in the STEAM fields, while experiencing the positive developmental outcomes of mentoring.
Now, as a result of a $399,989 grant from the National 4-H Council, this program will also be available in Bay, Gogebic, Kent, Lake and Mason counties. The National 4-H Council grant comes as a part of the Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention national effort to strengthen, expand and implement youth mentoring activities to improve the lives of millions of young Americans. With an interest in keeping kids safe and preventing juvenile delinquency, the OJJDP is investing in successful mentoring models such as 4-H Tech Wizards, which have been proven to produce positive youth development outcomes such as reducing school dropout rates and strengthening family relationships.
“We’re thrilled to be able to expand the 4-H Tech Wizards program to new areas of the state in 2015,” said Julie Chapin, director of MSU Extension children and youth programs. “Not only does this program help to connect youth with the guidance and support of a positive adult role model, it also encourages young people to explore the highly in-demand STEAM fields, which will ultimately benefit the youth and our state.”
Critical to MSU Extension’s ability to serve youth at all the community sites, both new and old, are the caring, committed adults who serve as mentors and more are needed. Though volunteers with a STEAM interest are encouraged to participate, expertise in a STEAM field is not required MSU Extension provides mentors with all the guidance, support and resources needed for working with mentees. If you are interested in supporting the program, either as a mentor, through a workplace partnership or with a financial contribution, please contact Scott Lakin at lakinsco@anr.msu.edu or 248-858-1509.