Submitted photo

4-H members built a paper hammock at the Statewide Camp Counselor training MXC (Making eXtreme Counselors) at the Ohio 4-H Center in Columbus on Feb. 23-24, 2013. 4-H is hosting a STEM Camp, June 4-6, at Canter’s Cave in Jackson.

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Ryan Scott Ottney

PDT Staff Writer

The Ohio State University Extension Office is hosting a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Camp at Canter’s Cave in Jackson for students in grades 5-7. Students from Adams, Brown, Gallia, Jackson, Highland, Lawrence, Meigs, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton counties will arrive at the camp on Tuesday, June 4, and end late morning on Thursday, June 6.

The OSU Extension Office said the Elizabeth L. Evans Outdoor Education Center at Canter’s Cave 4-H camp in Jackson is an ideal setting for their program, offering an abundance of natural resources and traditional camp activities. During the three-day, two-night camp, participants will participate in both special workshops focused on STEM and in some of those traditional 4-H camp activities – with a STEM twist.

Participants will select one STEM area to explore in-depth. Choices include Rocket Science, Robotics, Nature Science, Food Science, Animal Science, Medical Science or Alternative Energy. They will do lots of hands-on activities and learn about careers in the field. They will also go on a field trip, enjoy team building “engineering” challenges at the pool, and learn about the science of fire while enjoying a traditional campfire. And, they may have to learn something about food science as they work together to prepare their evening snacks.

The 4-H STEM Camp is sponsored in part by a grant from the Ohio 4-H Foundation, a grant from the South Central Region Endowment Fund, and OSU Extension in Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton counties. Camp is open to all youth completing 5th through 7th grades this spring. Youth do not have to be currently enrolled in the county’s 4-H program to participate in STEM Camp.

An event brochure and registration form is available on the web at http://scioto.osu.edu and from your local OSU Extension office. The fee to participate in STEM Camp is $50 per camper, and scholarships are available at some OSU Extension offices. Only the first 90 registrants will be accepted, and all registrations are due by May 1. Registered youth will receive additional information and forms through the mail which will need to be completed and returned prior to the start of camp.

For more information, contact Josi Brodt, Extension Program Coordinator, 4-H Youth Development, OSU Extension Scioto County via phone at 740-354-7879 or email at brodt.3@osu.edu.

Ryan Scott Ottney may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 287, or rottney@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Ryan on Twitter @PDTwriter.