Get Involved with 4-H Science

4-H Tech Wizards Mentoring Opportunities

Help the youth of Vermont by mentoring with 4-H Tech Wizards, a program developed by Oregon State University. The mission of 4-H Tech Wizards is to provide a culturally responsive, after-school, small-group mentoring program. 4-H Tech Wizards capitalizes on interest in emerging technology for youth ages 8-18 as a way of involving underrepresented youth and their families in learning basic life and workforce skills and aspiring to post-secondary education, productive jobs and careers, and community engagement. 4-H Tech Wizards engages underserved, underrepresented youth in a tiered mentoring program with science, technology, engineering, math education (STEM), and after-school tutoring.

The use of high tech tools serves as the “hook” that brings the youth into the program and keeps their interest. During the school year, youth engage in an intensive series of afterschool experiential, hands-on learning activities with real world applications. In the summer, they have the opportunity to participate in a summer capstone camp, service learning project, or internship. At the same time, parents of the students are offered the assistance and education they need to support their children in their educational achievement. Three key principles are infused into 4-H Tech Wizards including small group mentoring, community service, and extensive cultural outreach. The program helps youth aspire to post-secondary education, productive jobs and careers, and community.

Mentoring Program Description
Professionals specializing in emerging technologies connect with youth in a group mentoring setting. Youth are in cohorts of ten to twelve, with three to five mentors per group. The 4-H Tech Wizards curriculum has three skill levels delivered over three years. During this time, youth develop skills in website development, video and podcast production, GIS and GPS technologies, LEGO robotics, and newer technologies through real-world situations. Youth also volunteer 15 hours annually in technology-related service learning projects benefitting the larger community.

4-H Tech Wizards enhances learning by providing the targeted student group with technology training which is delivered in partnership with 4-H, schools, volunteers, libraries, non-profits, and other community partners. Students learn STEM related skills from adult mentors who become positive role models for the students to emulate. Additionally, students are taught important life skills, such as goal setting, problem solving, public speaking, and decision making.

Interested in Mentoring? Contact the site coordinator at the location you are interested in:
Lyndon: Lindsay Jones
(802) 751-8307 ext. 357 or 1-800-545-8920 (toll-free in VT)
lindsay.jones@uvm.edu

Westminster: Debbie Fajans
(802) 257-7967 ext. 306 or 1-800-278-5480 (toll-free in VT)
debbie.fajans@uvm.edu

Winooski: Stephanie Atwood
(802) 656-0346 or 1-800-956-1125 (toll-free in VT)
stephanie.atwood@uvm.edu

Fairfield: Martha Manning
(802) 524-6501 ext. 449 or 1-800-639-2130 (toll-free in VT)
martha.manning@uvm.edu