Joining forces to provide STEM career exploration opportunities, South Carolina 4-H and the American Society of Naval Engineers offered a free virtual engineering mini-camp for youth in fourth through ninth grade to engage students while they are at home. The Future Leaders in Experience-based Engineering and Technology (F.L.E.E.T.) program is funded by the Office of Naval Research to scale and assess virtual ship design programs using gamification. The program seeks to inspire interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in general and naval engineering.
The series of online lessons included exploring balance, buoyancy, and stability and ended with simulated ship design and an obstacle race. Sessions ranged from forty-five to ninety minutes based on content and participation.
We had fifteen participants from around the state and even one from Mexico. This initial group was a pilot to determine whether or not it would work remotely rather than in person. The participants were energetic and eager to try the naval engineering challenges at home. Once the principles of naval shipbuilding were covered, they began completing computer-generated ship designs and completed missions to test each design.
Submitted by: Dawn Stuckey, Colleton, and Hampton Counties, 4-H Youth Development Agent
