This week, 6 new VISTA members (Volunteers in Service to America) began a year of service with Arizona 4-H to help increase the program's reach in communities around the state. Our VISTA project co-locates a total of 9 VISTA members in county Extension offices to help recruit new volunteers, recruit youth, and start new after-school and summer programs that can help youth develop valuable life skills and help them develop a desire to attend college. This is an exciting time for Arizona 4-H. Two additional VISTA volunteers will join our ranks in early March, and Ean Barnard will also join us in March as our overall VISTA Leader.
The first big training event for them all will be the TerraPod project at the Biosphere. TerraPod is an innovative science and film-making project that was developed at Montana State University's Media and Theater Arts program. Through this project, youth learn about about specific science topics, like biodiversity or water quality, and then make their own 3-5 minute movie about this concept in their own neighborhood. Films are posted on YouTube and voted on in a virtual film festival. We are sending all the VISTAs to this training so they can start 4-H technology clubs back home.
If you want to learn more about TerraPod, visit their website at: www.terrapodcast.com
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