Youth Technology Network

Our fall after-school STEM classes with the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck are now in full swing across Lancaster, Northumberland, and Richmond Counties! 🍂🍁 This week in our exploration of the geosphere, we're learning about continental drift and taking hands-on learning to the next level by creating edible models, providing students a taste of the geological forces that give rise to earthquakes. 🌎

Our summer of STEM at the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck has come to an end. From navigating the technologies behind underwater mapping, building test rockets, and learning more about our vital ecosystem here in the Northern Neck region of Virginia, we've had a fantastic eight weeks! Thank you to our students and the club's leadership - see you in the fall!🍂

Check out YTN President Bobby Blackwell at the recent Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck open house in Northumberland County! Our summer with the students is winding down, but we're gearing up for fall!

➡ https://www.newsontheneck.com/living/the-blue-doors-are-open-northumberland-boys-girls-club-hosts-open-house/article_897b7e6a-266a-11ee-9e5e-8bb18c15e74b.html

“The blue doors are open” Northumberland Boys & Girls Club hosts open house Friends of the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck and community members got an inside look at the new Northumberland County site at an open house earlier on

This week at the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck, we're cooling off with a polar plunge! We'll be focusing on the polar habitat to learn about the properties of air - mass, volume, and weight - while also exploring snowmelt (with the help of snow cones!) as a source of fresh water.🍧❄️🧊

It's week six with the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck! This week, we're venturing into the Australian Grasslands and using the Engineering Design Process to design and fly a boomerang! 🪃

We're embarking on an exciting adventure this week at the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck as students find themselves lost in the rainforest! To find their way out, students will design and test prototype clay boat creations, while learning the basic principles of boat design. They'll gain first-hand experience with concepts such as buoyancy and density, and go through the steps of the engineering design process. 🌴🚣📐

We're back with the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck to venture into the forest habitat! This week, we'll be learning about how topographical maps are developed and navigating our way through compass design. 🌳🧭🗺️

This week at the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck, we're learning more about recycling and discovering the power we have to make a positive impact on our planet. We'll explore innovative ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and get creative to design games that encourage alternative uses for used items. 🌱♻️

We're back with the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck to dive into the fascinating world of ocean habitats! This week, we'll be exploring the technologies used for underwater mapping and guiding students through an exciting echolocation simulation. 🌊🐬🗺️

Check out our press release to learn more about the Virginia Department of Education - VDOE grant funded summer STEM program with the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck.

➡️https://youthtechnologynetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/YTN-Summer-Program-Press-Release-06062023.pdf

This week we'll be out learning more about our local ecosystem with the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck by collecting and analyzing macroinvertebrates. Check back later in the week to see what we learned!

🦀🦪🪱Macroinvertebrates are small aquatic animals such as worms, snails, and crustaceans. These organisms play important roles in freshwater ecosystems, like the Northern Neck, by indicating water quality, decomposing organic matter, and serving as a vital food source for other animals in the ecosystem.

Our summer STEM program kicks off today! Funded by the Virginia Department of Education - VDOE's Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant, we're partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Neck to bring students in grades K-10 an exciting 8-week summer STEM program! Be sure to follow us to stay updated on our weekly activities, including classroom sessions and hands-on learning experiences during field trips! ☀️