4-H Gateway Academy
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a not for profit organization dedicated to preparing middle and high school students for careers in the technical, high wage sector of engineering and engineering technology.
Workforce predictions say that careers in the fields of science, engineering, technolo
gy and math will be the high demand jobs of the 21st century. This is also the kind of work that is critical to state and national economic development. 4-H Youth Development in Wisconsin, as part of the STEM initiative, is partnering with the Kern Family Foundation to encourage more rural schools to adopt the PLTW curriculum to increase youth interest in engineering careers.
PLTW has developed a high school and middle school pre-engineering and technology curriculum in cooperation with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Educational Foundation. With support from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and a group of science and engineering philanthropists, over 100 Wisconsin high schools offer Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a nationally prominent pre-engineering and technology curriculum.
4-H Gateway Academy is a day camp summertime experience designed to inspire students to learn more about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
The project-based problem-solving activities deliver the fundamentals of STEM subjects, jump-starting middle schoolers for the academic rigor that lies ahead in high school and beyond.
4-H Gateway Academy opens a pathway for students that is based on their curiosity about the way things work, and it’s a place for girls and boys from all backgrounds to discover and follow their interests in STEM fields.
Campers work together using leading-edge technologies to sample such disciplines as robotics, aeronautics, and computer design.
2012 4-H Gateway Academy:
The Tomahawk School District and UW Extension 4-H are excited to offer the 4-H Gateway Academy, an engineering day camp for middle school students, at the Tomahawk School Complex from June 11-15th. Staff for this year’s Academy will include Mr. Huseby, Mr. Norman, Mrs. Olson, and Mrs. Moellendorf. During the one week camp, 5th – 7th grade students (2011-12 school year) will design and build engineering projects and begin to learn about science and engineering careers. The day camp is a joint venture by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, UW-Extension 4-H Youth Development, the Kern Family Foundation and local school districts.
To participate in the 4-H Gateway Academy participants must be:
- Boys or girls entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in the fall of 2012.
- Interested in science, technology, engineering or math careers.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
- Curious about how things work.
- Willing to participate in the activities and the field trip.
- Eager to have fun, learn something new, and make new friends.
The Academy will be run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, June 11th through Thursday, June 14th at the Tomahawk school complex. On Friday, June 15th, the group will be taking a field trip to explore engineering careers in Northern Wisconsin. This day will begin at 8 a.m. at the school complex and we will return to the school complex at 3 p.m. Transportation is available Monday through Thursday as a part of the Tomahawk summer school program. Friday, parents/guardians will be responsible for providing transportation to school and for pick up at the school. More detailed information will be sent after the registration deadline about these arrangements.
Day Campers will be limited to 20 youth with preference given to 7th and 8th graders (as of fall of 2012). To register for the academy complete the registration and health forms included with this letter. Mail the completed forms along with payment of $20 fee (helps with lunch and transportation costs for the field trip) by Monday, April 30th to Lincoln County UW-Extension office at 801 N. Sales Street, Suite 101, Merrill, WI 54452. Checks should be made payable to “Lincoln County UW-Extension – Gateway Academy”. Scholarships are available to cover fee based on financial need by contacting Debbie Moellendorf at 715-539-1077 or via email at deborah.moellendorf@ces.uwex.edu.
2012 Tomahawk 4-H Gateway Academy Registration Form
2012 Tomahawk 4-H Gateway Academy Health Form
Feel free to contact Debbie Moellendorf at 715-539-1077 if you have questions or concerns.
To learn more about 4-H Gateway Academy check out the Tomahawk Gateway Academy 2010 Video
For more information about Project Leader the Way and Gateway Academy please visit the Wisconsin 4-H Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Website at http://4h.uwex.edu/set/engineering.cfm
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