The 2012 North Central Region 4-H Science Academy will be held Feb 8-10, 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri. Funded by the Noyce Foundation, the Academy will bring together 4-H professional faculty and staff from the twelve north central states in a three-day summit. The goal of the Academy is to build the capacity of state and local 4-H staff to deliver high quality, sustainable, nonformal 4-H science education programs.

The 4-H Science Initiative was started in 2008 to strengthen 4-H programs and to improve youth science literacy. The Academy will be an opportunity to share, network, and improve 4-H’s programs in animal science, ecosystems and natural resources, engineering, and foods and nutrition through increased capacity to develop curricula, evaluate program outcomes and impacts, train volunteer educators, and raise funds.

Land Grant University Extension faculty from the twelve North Central States are involved with this multi-state effort. The North Central Region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.