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Lake Land College To Host Activities For 2011 4-H National Youth Science Day In October

 width=Lake Land College, in coordination with the University of Illinois Extension, Unit 19, will host activities for the 2011 4-H National Youth Science Day on Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at Lake Land College.

During this fourth annual nation-wide event, 75 students from Cumberland Elementary School will become scientists for the day and conduct an experiment called Wired for Wind, where they will engage in the engineering and design process of renewable wind energy technology.

“This nation-wide event is designed to engage hundreds of thousands of American youth in a single science experiment focusing on a very important issue facing our global community – renewable energy,” said Dana Homann, University of Illinois Extension youth educator.

In this three-part experiment, students will design and build their own wind turbines, play with blade pitch variables and map a potential wind farm site in their own region. Instruction will be led by the Lake Land College technology division including Tim Van Dyke, technology division chair and civil engineering technology instructor; Joe Tillman, renewable energy instructor and coordinator; Jeff Oder, director of sustainability; and Mark Dyer, training coordinator. Additionally, students will discuss energy consumption as they discover ways to reduce dependence on traditional energy sources.

Additionally, students participating in the experiment will have the opportunity to see the two functioning turbines on the Lake Land College campus.

“We are eager to meet these future scientists and technicians,” said Tillman. “These students will have a chance to see Lake Land’s existing turbines up close, as well as build their own models. We hope that seeing real turbines and doing some creative hands-on projects will help inspire both their designs and minds now and into the future.”

4-H seeks to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, forming attitudes and developing life skills that enable them to become caring, competent and contributing members of society. For more information on this experiment or other 4-H programs contact your local University of Illinois Extension office.

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