30 years of Electric Camp

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Do you know how to fly a drone? Can you build an electric motor? Do you know how virtual reality (VR) helps engineers solve real-world problems? Do you know how to program a robot? Do you know how to play it safe around electricity? Tennessee’s young 4-H members do after attending the University of Tennessee Extension’s 4-H Electric Camp 30th Anniversary RoadShow. Thirty years ago Dr. Mike Buschermohle established the 4-H Electric Camp with a goal to improve the knowledge of 6th and 7th grade 4-H members in STEM subject matter areas such as electricity, energy conservation, alternative energy sources, electronics, computer applications, robotics, electrical safety, engineering, and other basic sciences. Over the last 30 years, more than 8,000 4-H youth have attended the 4-H Electric Camp. The 4-H Electric Camp is made possible because of the unique partnership he established between The University of Tennessee Extension, the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and its statewide member cooperatives, the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association and its statewide member municipal systems, TVA, and allied industry donors. This partnership provides financial assistance to help offset the cost of the camp, donates equipment and supplies for the “hands-on” learning centers and supplies volunteers to help plan and teach the learning activities at camp.