San Juan County 4-H’ers Have a Blast with Rockets!
By Betsy Fradd, WSU Extension 4-H
If you look closely up in the air you might catch a glimpse of one of the many rockets being launched by an enthusiastic group of 4-H’ers in San Juan County.
The Shaw Island Pioneers have fun building the rockets, learning about trajectory, and, of course, shooting off the (hopefully) high flying missiles.
“Rocketry is wonderful because it appeals to children and teens through science, technology, and the excitement of launching the rockets they build,” said 4-H leader Jan Sanburg. “The kids take pride in putting the rockets together, learn how to follow instructions, and see something take place from start to finish.”
The eight to twelve week project includes discussions and observations about thrust, wind, and gravity and how those forces impact the path of a projectile. More experienced members learn to estimate the trajectory of the flight and how to calculate the height the rocket reached. Launches are carefully supervised in order to give everyone an opportunity to learn about safety.
“Launches bring the project full circle and provide a memorable experience of success, and sometimes failure,” said Sanburg. “Learning the safety rules helps the members realize their safety is important and therefore, they are important.”
To learn more about 4-H programs in San Juan County visit: http://sanjuan.wsu.edu/staff.html
Posted May 2010
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