Article Contributed on: 11/9/2009 12:26:08 PM
The Colorado State University Denver Extension 4-H program is one of eight sites selected to pilot a new 4-H science program, called Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) in Our Community - A Digital Storytelling Project. In the project, 4-H youth will create short films that explore science in their communities and enter them into a national contest.
"We are excited about these eight teams and the great plans they have to engage youth in the exploration of the science involved in timely and important issues in their urban communities," said Chad Ripberger, Project Director, 4-H SET in Urban Communities. "We believe that filmmaking will be a powerful way for youth to express what they have learned about key issues and what they believe can be done at community and personal levels."
Ashlee Adams, County 4-H Agent; Cole Beacon Neighborhood Center; along with students Marche Miles and Kevin Omana, participated in the national kickoff of the project at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, MD, October 14-16. At the event, youth discussed numerous public issues at the project kickoff - including water quality, industrial pollution, urban forestry and wildlife habitat, and renewable energy sources and technologies. Visit Denver 4-H's Facebook page to see the training movie created by Denver youth.
As the local project leadership team, the 4-H youth and staff will partner with Cole Beacon Neighborhood Center to involve 20-30 youth in the production of 6-10 short science films - between now and August of 2010. The teams will identify and research the science involved in issues in their community, document it through film, and deliver presentations to groups of local leaders and decision makers. At the end of the program, Cole Beacons Neighborhood Center 4-H will showcase the efforts of the youth by screening their films and selecting the top three to enter a national 4-H science film contest. Youth will use new resources available on the 4-H Filmmaking Workshop and Studio website - http://projects.4-hcurriculum.org/curriculum/filmmaking/.
The program is serving as the pilot project for a new 4-H initiative, 4-H SET in Urban Communities, and will help develop professional development resources