Gogebic 4-H seeks mentors for new tech program

BESSEMER - The Gogebic County 4-H club is looking for adult mentors to help with its "4-H Tech Wizards" program to launch soon.

The "Tech Wizards" program will meet once a week and participate in a variety of STEAM - science, technology, engineering, art and math - activities, such as programming Lego robots, rocketry and geocaching.

"As a result (of these activities), 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," said program coordinator Monie Shackleford in a press release announcing the group.

Mentors are asked to commit to mentoring two hours per week for a year, according to Shackleford, and each mentor will be paired with three or four youth. Volunteers aren't required to be experts in the STEAM fields, as the local Michigan State University Extension office will organize and introduce the two-hour weekly activities and provide guidance and support for groups.

"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."

The program is open to children with an interest in science between 8 and 17. A waiting list is being created while mentors are being selected.

The program will be at two sites, according to Shackleford, one in the Ironwood-Bessemer-Wakefield area and the other at the Watersmeet School.

The program is funded, along with four other county 4-H programs in the state, through a $399,989 grant that MSU Extension received through the National 4-H Council to start Tech Wizard programs. The grant was part of a national campaign by the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to "strengthen, expand and implement youth mentoring activities that help keep kids safe and prevent juvenile delinquency," according to Shackleford.

Tech Wizards programs have been proven to produce positive youth development outcomes, such as reducing school drop-out rates and strengthening family relationships.

For more information, or to become involved in the program, contact Shackleford at 906-663-4045 or [email protected]. The Michigan 4-H Tech Wizards site is michigan4htechwizards.org.

-Richard Jenkins