Youth in grades 3-5 are invited to participate in the Galactic Quest 4-H Stem Challenge at the Fillmore County Extension Office.

In Stellar Optics on October 5th, youth will begin their space adventure by looking at the stars. They will explore principles of light and construct a simple refracting telescope. Using their telescope, youth will learn about common constellations that have influenced human cultures for millennia. Since the distortion of light by moisture and other atmospheric particles hinders our view of celestial bodies here on Earth, youth are introduced to the concept of moving outside of Earth and its atmosphere for further exploration.

Cipher Space on October 7th, you will learn the concepts of cybersecurity and protecting our assets in space. Youth will use a Caesar cipher wheel to decode a secret message, encrypt and decipher words with their peers, and participate in a group relay race. They will learn about careers in cybersecurity technology and space.  This activity builds the computational thinking skill of pattern recognition as youth search for patterns to find a solution to the encryption challenges.

October 12th brings Astro Adventure. In this board game, youth will attempt to expand their influence on our solar system by collecting resources and adding spacecraft to their fleet. They will learn about the resources needed for space exploration and where they could be found. In addition, youth will explore the implications of space travel on human health in this interplanetary adventure.

Astro Adventure continues on October 14th. In this activity, youth will use the engineering design process to design, build, and operate a robotic claw. Working together, the group will create a model of a hydraulic-powered robotic arm and claw and test it by completing an agricultural task. Ultimately, the mechanical claw should be able to perform a simple griping, scooping or raking action to cultivate crops on another world.

All workshops will be held at the Fillmore County Extension Office 1340 G Street, Geneva, NE, at 4:00 p.m.
If youth want to come right after school, there will be a snack and games before the session starts. To sign up for one session or all please call the Fillmore County Extension Office at 402-759-3712!