4-H, a longstanding youth development organization in the United States, is expanding its educational programs to include technology-focused learning, with support from Apple. Traditionally known for teaching agricultural and domestic skills, 4-H is now integrating STEM projects into its offerings.
At the Franklin County Fair in Columbus, Ohio, 4-H members demonstrated this shift by using iPads to drive Sphero robots and coding with Swift inside a mobile classroom bus. "I like how 4-H is very inclusive," said Calum Williams, a 15-year-old member. "Even if you’re not interested in livestock or sewing or cooking... there are a lot of other things you can do that incorporate technology."
Apple's Community Education Initiative (CEI), launched in 2019, has played a significant role in bringing technology to 4-H programs across various states. The initiative focuses on providing coding and creativity opportunities to students, particularly those from underrepresented communities. Apple's collaboration began with The Ohio State University and has expanded to reach thousands of young people in Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Idaho, and soon North Carolina.
Jobie Thinthapthai, a 12-year-old participant at the fair who explored robotics on an iPad for the first time through the mobile classroom bus said: “It was really cool... Medicine is constantly advancing with technology." Mark Light oversees the bus’s operations and noted that only 10% of Ohio's 200 different project areas are agriculture-related.
In New Jersey, Apple collaborates with Rutgers University-Newark through the 4-H Computer Science Pathways project. Rodrigo Sanchez Hernandez highlighted the impact of peer mentors: "The magic of this program... is that hands-on experience makes our young people realize that they can succeed in STEM fields."
Michigan also benefits from Apple's support as it works with Michigan State University and local 4-H clubs to foster technical skills among youth. At a camp in Hiawatha National Forest attended by nearly 80 young people this summer, participants used iPads to create presentations on building robots.
Reflecting on her son's achievements at the Franklin County Fair where he won second place for his duck presentation using iPad tools for preparation and documentation Danielle Moeller Williams expressed pride: “I think with all the advancements in technology... I’m so incredibly proud of how he’s embraced it.”
