2012 Gear Tech Camp Report Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Region 1

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1 2012 Gear Tech Camp Report Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Region 1 Successes The Gear Tech Camp offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach throughout Region One can be defined as a successful event. Throughout the summer, this camp program has reached over 70 youth, sparking the interest of robotics and engineering for future career paths. These youth have not only found interest in the subject matter, they have become creative problem solvers and a model of positive behavior for peers. By striving for our youth to meet these credentials, we have created a rewarding, successful experience throughout NW Iowa. Demographic Throughout the NW Region 1 of Iowa, this gear tech camps have reached 72 youth. While the camp has been directed toward 4 th -8 th grade youth, the demographics certainly did not stop there. Parent volunteers, younger siblings, and grandparents all had the opportunity to learn as well. Our daily showcase was an educational experience for all who attended. Campers were able to share their daily triumphs and struggles Dickenson O'Brien Boy/Girl Participation Ratio Osceola Lyon Level 2 Sheldon Sioux Clay Figure 1: Boys predominately outnumbered girls in our 2012 gear tech camps. Girls Boys

2 Partnerships We owe a large portion of our success in the gear tech camps to our partnerships with community businesses throughout the summer. Businesses such as ICONAg, DGR, Valero, and Northwest Iowa Community College have become staples in our programming. Partnership with these businesses not only brings forth our campers to a new realm of education, we also find ourselves educating the business partners. This program does not educate individuals; this program educates a community. While presenting a camp in Paullina, O Brien, a Valero representative not only came to present, but stayed all day to help build, program, and recalculate robotic behaviors. In experiences such as this, we have found that community partnerships bring tremendous results to the table. With backgrounds in engineering, partnerships assist campers in entrepreneurship. Consequently, our partners are learning about youth needs and the steps needed to assist them in becoming our future workforce. Everyone is learning. Everyone is teaching. Everyone is reaping the rewards. ICONAg has also allowed us to create a phenomenal camp experience. Through their partnership, campers have had the opportunity to experience the reality of GPS in our local culture. Many campers find themselves riding captain in a GPS equipped tractor for the first time. Others find themselves experiencing the tractor itself for the first time. Experiences such as this are irreplaceable, and we are forever thankful that ICON has allowed us the ability to provide this experience for our campers. As you can see, these partnerships are an irreplaceable portion of our programming. The essential benefit we see from these partnerships is that they allow us the ability to do great things on a minimal budget. The donation of time and education from these companies has added an element to our camps no educator could produce. Career Interest Whether it s engineering, robotics, zoology, farming, or culinary school our campers are looking at, our camp strives to introduce the impact of robotics and GPS systems into all fields. While campers may sign up for our week long program in hopes of building their own robot, our experience gives them so much more. We teach them the importance of GPS in robotics programming. We teach them the importance of robotics in nearly every field. We teach them the importance of the knowledge of these factors. While gear tech camp sounds like fun, the possibility of a career in robotics may seem daunting to many campers. Removing this uncertainty only takes a week as we produce youth with desires of pursuing careers in engineering, robotics, and GPS fields. Page 2 of 8

3 The glory of these careers lies in the placement. Most of these campers provide the opportunity for our communities to produce self-sustaining citizens who will return to the area workforce. Our camp is the first step towards their interest in 21 st century careers. Interpersonal Communications Communications skills are a daily staple in our gear tech camps. From teamwork to creative problem solving, campers were asked to present themselves in a professional manner as they explored the world of robotics. Daily showcases allowed our campers to address their successes and failures to the world around them. This opportunity allowed us to expand the camp. The daily activities are built to create the philosophy, What can I share about what I just learned? Teamwork also implements a large communication factor of our camps. Each camper is asked to partner with another camper in order to work in a pair with their robot. While this partnership does not always spark the most interest on day one, campers find the help of another mind is indispensible. The necessity of a partner can be found in the prospective of problem solving. Where one partner may find struggles, the other often is able to teach. Campers spend the day building professional communication skills without the knowledge of doing so. During the level two camp in Sheldon, Sioux/O Brien campers were able to tour the robotics portion of the electrical engineering lab on campus. This opportunity not only proved fruitful for our programs, but also for the program at NCC. Our campers were then able to present their work to the NCC students. Both groups found themselves amid a unique opportunity of collaboration. The strength of young male role models shown to our primarily male camp addressed the future these youth attest to. Suggestions While the gear tech camps held in NW Iowa this summer proved to be successful adventures, improvements may be made to increase the achievement of these camps. The following suggestions are offered for the betterment of the program as it proceeds to impact the lives of Iowa youth: Camp Length Prior to my engagement with the gear tech camps, educator Allison Weeldryer had expressed concern that the camps appeared too long for adequate learning to take place. She felt as if the camps required too much attention from campers during the summer hours at a high level. Allison had suggested to me that camps be limited to three/four days a week or five half days. This change in schedule would assist in holding campers attention and facilitating more time to the robotics kits. Page 3 of 8

4 I would, however, beg to suggest the opposite. While I can see the benefits of a shorted camp on the scheduling aspect, I believe the benefits reaped from the week long endeavor outweigh those held in scheduling. Campers gain more than the knowledge taught during the week of camp. They learn how to solve problems without assistance. So much education comes from campers teaching themselves. I do not believe this process will develop as greatly as it did this summer without time. Campers need the full week to discover what it takes to become creative problem solvers. With the amount of possible information to present in the week s time, I do not believe there should be any problem producing a five day literature. It is the benefit of all participants to hold on to the five day program. Capstone Numbers While I sense the need to reach a large portion of the youth population in NW Iowa, I also sense the need to provide a fulfilling opportunity to those participants engaged in the program. I sense the optimal number involved in camps to range from 8-12 campers. This number allows for adequate partnerships, but also allows campers the ability to interact with camp leaders on a smaller-ratio basis. This number leads to less classroom management and more instruction. While I understand a new capstone of perhaps 15 campers may limit the numbers this camp reaches, I believe quality must become a breeching factor. Smaller capstone numbers allow for a higher quality experience for campers, camp leaders, partnerships, etc. Everyone wins in this situation. I would recommend capping future camps at 15, but recommend an ideal number of 10 campers. Camp Dates While I understand the logics of scheduling suggest camps back to back all summer will create the most productive programming, I think light should be shown on a new perspective. As a camp educator, it is difficult to target attention on gear tech camp after gear tech camp, vet tech camp, level two camp, etc. The randomization of the camps makes programming a balancing act. As an ease for future educators, I would recommend a straight progression of camps. Perhaps June could be targeted at gear tech level one camps, July at gear tech level two camps. This allows for the completion of one thought before progressing to the next. In this scenario, three day camps may work best. This would allow for maximum programming during the months campers are available. I would also recommend the deletion of camps that run into middle August. Once again, while I understand the logistics of the situation, this time may pose a scheduling conflict for educators. Page 4 of 8

5 2012 Vet Science Camp Report Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Region 1 Successes The Vet Science Camp offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach throughout Region one can be defined as a successful event. Throughout the summer, this camp program has reached over 70 youth, sparking the interest of veterinary science for their future career paths. These youth have not only found interest in the subject matter, they have become creative problem solvers and advocates for animal agriculture. By striving for our youth to meet these credentials, we have created a positive, successful experience throughout NW Iowa. Demographic Throughout the NW Region 1 of Iowa, this vet science camp has reached 71 youth. While the camp has been directed toward 4 th -7 th grade youth, the demographics certainly did not stop there. With campers participating in all grades 4 th -11 th, our vet science camp fit the entire 4H population. With an average of 14 participants at each camp, there is room for growth, but the first summer of camp has yielded promising participation. 20 Boy/Girl Participation Ratio Girls Boys Lyon Osceola O'Brien Clay Sioux Figure 1: Girls predominately outnumbered boys in our 2012 vet science camps. Partnerships Partnering with community veterinarians has assisted our program in creating community involvement. The veterinarians we have had the opportunity to work with not only spark enthusiasm in the participants, they find the participants sparking enthusiasm in them. Our partnerships have sparked education in all those who have assisted us. Page 5 of 8

6 Guest veterinarians are not the only connections we have held in the veterinarian field. We have utilized local veterinarian clinics for the borrowing of supplies. Stethoscopes and x-rays were donated for our short-term use. The interest in our camps from the veterinarian field has been positive and inspiring for the work we have been completing. There is obvious support from the veterinarian field. Volunteers have been an asset to our program. Their partnership has provided an example of community service for our campers. Volunteers are a major part of our success in the veterinary science camps. Our camp has given them an opportunity to educate, learn more about the veterinary field, and build partnerships with the 4H programming as well. Career Interest This experience has assisted in creating career interest in participating youth. While some youth enter the camp with plans to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, not all are bound for the extended education path. Regardless of the initial plans our campers envision, most leave with a new perspective of veterinary careers. While some may leave with plans to one day attend veterinary school, others leave with different ideas. Our camp has not only faced the opportunity to produce future veterinarians in rural Iowa, it has proposed an opportunity to produce present day advocates for animal agriculture. It has proposed an opportunity to produce future farmers, future animal caregivers, and future professionals in the animal industry. While the camp may be focused on veterinary science, the career interests we have achieved have been so much greater. Interpersonal Communications Communications skills have blossomed in our veterinary science camp experiences. With countless opportunities to develop skills that will produce successful citizens, our youth practice communication skills all day long, most not even recognizing they are doing so. Teamwork has been a staple of the current program. Participants spend the majority of their day in teams. While the team makeup changes periodically, the standards and responsibilities remain the same. Youth must remain an engaged member of the team to ensure success. We begin by having youth follow the leadership of the camp leader, progress into following leadership from a volunteer, and complete the experience with leadership required from all members within the group. This veterinary science camp is producing leaders in the field of veterinary science. Page 6 of 8

7 Creative problem solving skills are implemented in our program as well. Case studies are presented to the participants. While these case studies frustrate campers at first, they soon find their independence and high levels of self-esteem assist them in completing the task at hand- with minimal outside assistance. This breach of confidence levels has proven to allow us to release self-efficient leaders back into our communities. The six hours we have allotted for a one-day camp allows tremendous strides for our participating youth. Suggestions Our current system has seen incredible success for a beginning year of operations. However, we must continue to take steps forward as we build a program that will sustain itself for many years to come. The following provides suggestions that will allow a sustainable program suitable for all ages: Build 8 th -12 th camp While our current camp system allows participation in nearly all levels of the 4H community, there is room for improvement. The curriculum currently displayed finds the greatest success when paired with youth 4 th -7 th grades. This leaves a gap for older students who also wish to pursue careers in veterinary science and animal agriculture. I would suggest implementing a separate camp system for youth grades 8 th -12 th. This curriculum could be based on the American Veterinary Association camp curriculum. Dr. Fred Sick from Sioux Center, Iowa has proven to be a strong leader in this advanced curriculum. Implementing this curriculum would entail two day camps in each participating county one day for a junior vet science camp and one day for a senior vet science camp. I believe this opportunity will allow all youth to expand the education they have received from our camps. Younger youth will be able to spend more time on information that may have bored our high school participants. High school youth will be able to expand their education to more difficult tasks and greater hands-on opportunities. Ideas for a senior camp may include dissection, vein identification, and large animal health, all ideas discussed and supported by Dr. Fred Sick. Partner with Agriculture Clubs I believe a strong partnership with college Pre-veterinary Science Clubs and local FFA chapters may allow a sustainable program with diminished costs. While the implementation of a second camp with undoubtedly require extended work from an additional intern, once the curriculum is approved and tested, I believe FFA groups and the Dordt Pre-Vet Club should be able to deliver the two one-day camps to youth. This Page 7 of 8

8 interaction would prove beneficial to not only the youth receiving the instruction, but also the partnered Agriculture Clubs. In our experience, Dordt participants have found the clubs just as enriching and beneficial to their field of study as the 4H campers have. Opening up the teaching of the camp to agriculture clubs would free a hired intern to implement the production of new summer programming you may wish to incorporate into the NW Iowa 4H programming. This opportunity may also open the option to move the vet science camp programming to the school year. Implementation of this program into the Dordt Ag-Career Day, or a school Ag-Career Day may allow for greater youth participation. This form of implementation would also increase the 4H footprint. 4H program participants would not be the only participants in the vet science camp program. Page 8 of 8