In a typical year, registration for the Illinois 4-H Memorial Camp fills up within hours with kids eager to spend their summer engaged in fun, outdoor activities. Located on a large property owned by the University of Illinois, the camp is surrounded by woodlands, a lake, and numerous hiking trails where 8-to-16-year-old campers eagerly explore the wilderness and all it has to offer. This includes traditional camp activities like swimming, tie-dying, and field games – as well as Creation Station, the camp’s hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program.
Of course, 4-H Memorial Camp looks a bit different this year as the program pauses in-person activities through July due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, youth in and outside of Illinois can visit the 4-H Memorial Camp Projects page for online activities they can do at home right now.
In a typical summer, at Creation Station, campers learn about all things STEM, from the basics of electricity to LEGO mechanics to drones and rocket building. Every summer since its 2017 debut, Creation Station has been a magnet for campers who are excited about STEM. To see a video of Creation Station in action, click here.
Curtis Sinclair, 4-H Memorial Camp Director, shared: “There are times during the day that campers can choose individually where they want to go, and with all camp activities in front of them, Creation Station is packed with kids excited to learn about STEM.”
The camp continues to evolve Creation Station with new and different activities each summer. One exciting addition planned for this later this season encourages campers to explore alternative transportation. Through the “Junior Solar Sprint,” campers will design and race solar panel cars and learn about weight distribution and renewable energy.
HughesNet is proud to have supported the Illinois 4-H Memorial Camp and other 4-H projects. To learn more about the HughesNet commitment to rural STEM education, click here.
