STEM « OSU Extension Internship Program

Hi again! It’s Evelyn, the OSU Extension intern from Wasco County, Oregon. This has been an amazing summer, and I have learned a lot. Now that all of our 4-H summer camps have finished, I can recap everything I learned. To make the camps run smoothly, we have to ensure we have enough supplies for every student, from building materials to working computers, to snacks and water bottles. I also learned that even if you spend days updating computers in June, Windows will still require major updates in July that unfortunately must be installed for the computers to run. While working with Susan McCourt on our Invention Convention (IC) teacher training, I have learned what IC will look like in Oregon in the future. Additionally, I facilitated my first Zoom meeting, which took a lot of troubleshooting to set up, but it was a huge success! I have learned a lot about Zoom, and I feel quite prepared if I am needed to run another meeting again.

One big struggle I faced this year was at one of our later summer camps. We were running our camp at one of our local elementary schools, and a lot of our computers were unable to connect to the internet. After sorting through the twenty-one computers I had, I was able to connect twelve to the internet. We had a 16-student camp starting in 30 minutes and were prepared to pair up students to ensure everyone could learn. We then had many students go to the wrong location due to a mislabeled email months back, but by the time the camp started, we had twelve students show up. Luckily, we had enough computers, and the rest of the day went smoothly. I learned a great deal about organization and adapting when encountering challenges to achieve success amidst struggles.

Students at the 3D Printing Camp testing their boat designs in a tub of water. Photo: Cameron Deitz-Fuller

This past week I have been helping Leah Ashley plan the Wasco County Fair. This involved doing odd jobs around the office. I made judging cards for livestock and small animals, and then dove into sorting the champion banners into their respective categories. This part of the fair is actually quite exciting because I get to see what the 4-H office team does before the fair starts. During the fair, I will be helping run the STEM activities: robotics, duct-tape projects and popsicle-stick catapults [due to the Grasshopper Fire, the Wasco County Fair has been canceled, placing all fair activities on hold].

Now that my internship is almost over (August 14th is my last day), I can share what I have generally learned this summer. Besides learning how to run the 4-H camps and the fair, I have learned how to solve problems with limited instructions, which is a very useful skill. Also, all the knowledge I gained about STEM and the Wasco County Fair will help me as I pursue a career in engineering.

I would like to thank the entire Wasco County OSU Extension office for making my internship a very enjoyable experience. I would also like to thank Susan McCourt, whom I worked alongside during my internship. It has been a pleasure to hear about all of the other interns’ stories, and I hope everyone has an amazing year!

Hello again!

My name is Madeline Breiling, and I am now in my last full week as the 4-H intern for OSU Extension in Umatilla County. Throughout my internship this summer, I have had the chance to assist with and take the lead on a wide variety of projects across Umatilla County. Before this summer, I had little involvement with 4-H, and I’ve been so impressed by the sportsmanship, enthusiasm and dedication the youth have demonstrated throughout all of the 4-H events I’ve assisted with.

Students attending the Milton-Freewater YMCA summer camp submerge their designed boats to see how many pennies their boats can hold. Photo: Madeline Breiling

This summer, I have had the opportunity to assist with Umatilla County’s “Pre-Fair” contests, including Fashion Revue, Public Speaking, Cooking and the 4-H Dog Show. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time at each of these events. Since I have less experience with the livestock and home economics side of 4-H, it was exciting to learn by watching the contests, illustrated talks and demonstrations, as well as talking with competitors, 4-H Ambassadors, superintendents, volunteers and judges. In a time when so many people are glued to their devices, it was refreshing to see young people so passionate and knowledgeable about sewing, cooking, caring for livestock and confidently sharing their skills and interests with others.

Madeline Brieling snaps a photo of the students at the Milton-Freewater YMCA summer camp experimenting with STEM boat designs. Photo: Madeline Breiling

My main focus this summer has been providing hands-on STEM opportunities to nontraditional 4-H audiences. Earlier in my internship, I taught STEM lessons at the YMCA after-school program in Milton-Freewater and at the Hermiston summer school. More recently, I led activities at Camp Cloverbud, where campers planted pumpkin seeds during a horticulture lesson and built straw rockets as part of a science activity. Throughout much of the summer, I have also been teaching STEM lessons for the YMCA summer camp in Milton-Freewater. Campers explored many different areas of STEM through hands-on activities, from creating and investigating Möbius strips as part of a mathematics activity to working in teams to design and build boats capable of holding as many pennies as possible without sinking during an engineering lesson. One of the most rewarding parts of my internship has been seeing students collaborate, test their ideas and improve their designs as well as gain more confidence and excitement about doing STEM activities.

This summer has flown by, and I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I have had with 4-H and OSU Extension this summer. My experiences over the past few months have allowed me to connect with and learn from the community while strengthening my skills and confidence in developing STEM curriculum and teaching. This internship has reinforced my passion for STEM education and community outreach, and I will carry these experiences with me as I begin teaching calculus as part of my master’s program this fall. I would like to thank Shevon Hatcher, Courtney Waliser, Jaime Chambers and all of the other Umatilla County OSU Extension employees who have made this summer so enjoyable. Thank you for your mentorship, encouragement and support throughout the summer.

Hey y’all, my name is Jack Sparks, and I am an intern for OSU Extension this summer in Polk County! At Oregon State University, I am going into my sophomore year, studying mechanical engineering with a focus on robotic control in the honors program. Robotic control can vary widely, but I hope to focus on human-robot integration and sensors. My end goal is to get a PhD in autonomous mechanisms and human-robot interaction, with the hope of being a leader in the field and providing opportunities for rural students to get more involved in engineering programs.

Jack Sparks, intern in Polk County. Photo: Sarah LaDuke

4-H has played a huge role in shaping who I am and what I am studying. I have been involved in 4-H for almost a decade, where I have focused on the static and leadership side of the program. There weren’t a whole lot of STEM opportunities in my community while I was growing up, so I had to seek programs and projects actively. 4-H has given me so many opportunities that I would never have had otherwise. From being able to join a college program at 14 years old, to growing my leadership skills and being able to mentor youth; my involvement in the 4-H program is a large part of what makes me the person that I am today.

Currently, I am gearing up for the Polk County Fair in the first week of August and doing some general office work. I have been working at the fair for the better part of five years now, but being an intern has allowed me to learn a lot more than just how to set up the static building. We are also going to be in a new space this year, which will present new challenges and allow us to experiment with new layout designs.

As the summer continues, I will continue my general Extension work and assist wherever needed. I also plan to teach STEM-related classes as part of my project for Polk County. I want to give youth the chance to do more than just the agriculture side of 4-H and offer them the opportunities I wish I had while growing up in the program.

Hello! My name is Evelyn Schecter and I am the Oregon State University Extension Service intern for Wasco County, Oregon. I have just graduated high school and I am going to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for biomedical engineering in the fall. Throughout college, I hope to find the path within biomedical engineering that most interests me and then pursue it after I graduate. In the past, I participated in many 4-H camps, and I have worked as a 4-H STEM Teen Leader for the past three years. This involved helping out by running summer camps and afterschool clubs, along with coaching VEX IQ robotics at The Dalles middle school. This past experience is what inspired me to apply and become an intern for OSU Extension.

Evelyn Schecter sporting her college merchandise for South Dakota School of Mines on Decision Day. Photo: Varina Schecter

As an intern this summer, I will continue to help lead and plan summer camps for 4-H youth, and in August, I will help at the Wasco County Fair. So far this summer, I have helped lead many STEM camps, including Intro to 3D Printing, Game Maker, Sphero Coding, and Introduction to Vex IQ Robotics. I have also led a group at our archery camp and helped lead a few local hikes. These camps are meant to be an opportunity for youth in Wasco County to discover new interests and have fun while learning something new! For me, leading these camps allows me to partake in the community and help spread educational opportunities. Through my role as an intern, I am able to give back to the community through activities that I am extremely grateful were available when I was a 4-H member.

Bill and Evelyn from Wasco County instructing the archery line at their week long archery camp. Photo: Susan McCourt

In the second half of my internship I will continue leading more summer camps and will also be helping Susan McCourt with an Invention Convention teacher training. The purpose of this training is to spread knowledge of the Invention Convention (IC) to possible schools and teachers that will then be able to support it in their classrooms. While IC has been around for 43 years, it is just now being brought to Oregon, and I am super excited to be a part of spreading it throughout the state. I am also excited for this August as I will be helping out with the Wasco County Fair and 4-H program through planning and logistics, and offering service through tabling.

I am very grateful for what I have been able to do so far, and I am looking forward to whatever comes next!

Hi everyone!

My name is Madeline Breiling, and this is my fourth year working with OSU Extension in Umatilla County, but my first year serving as a 4-H intern. I recently graduated from the College of Charleston in South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, astronomy and data science. This fall, I will be returning to the College of Charleston to pursue a master’s degree in mathematics with a concentration in statistics. I am excited to be back in Pendleton for another summer serving the community through OSU Extension!

Hermiston summer school students working on building a paper stomp rocket. Photo: Madeline Breiling

I am now in the seventh week of my internship. This summer, my primary focus has been reaching nontraditional 4-H audiences by providing STEM education opportunities to students who may not otherwise have access to them. STEM programming is an area with significant need in Umatilla County, and I have been grateful for the opportunity to combine my passion for STEM education with community service by developing my own STEM curriculum, creating lesson plans and teaching hands-on activities.

Featuring an afterschool program art project from students at the YMCA who followed a binary algorithm. Photo: Madeline Breiling

To start my internship, I worked with the YMCA elementary after-school program in Milton-Freewater, where I taught unplugged computer science lessons. These activities focused on building foundational computational thinking skills, including following algorithms, communicating clearly and developing creative problem-solving strategies. I also taught lessons in physics and engineering that encouraged students to take the lead in the scientific process through experimentation, allowing their creativity and curiosity to guide their learning.

Over the past two weeks, I have also been teaching an aerospace engineering unit to fourth- and fifth-grade students at Hermiston summer school. The unit concluded with students working in teams to design and build stomp rockets using paper and tape before testing them outside. After their initial launch, students developed a hypothesis about a design change that might improve their rocket’s performance, modified their rockets and launched them again to test their ideas. It was exciting to watch them apply the engineering design process while learning through experimentation.

For the remainder of the summer, I will be leading a STEM activity at Camp Cloverbud and teaching STEM lessons for the YMCA summer camp in Milton-Freewater. I am looking forward to the opportunities still ahead. It has been incredibly rewarding to see students become excited about STEM, especially since many of them have limited opportunities to participate in hands-on STEM learning during the school year. Seeing their curiosity and confidence grow has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my internship.

Hello! My name is Dean Burwash, I am a freshman at Oregon State University,
majoring in natural resources. I am an intern for the Oregon State University Extension
Service in Polk County. I have worked for OSU Extension previously as a Summer
Education Assistant at the Oregon Outdoor Education Center (formerly the Oregon 4-H
Center), where I taught at camps and helped manage the facility. I have been very
involved in 4-H for the last eight years, where I have served as a Polk County and 4-H
State Ambassador, camp counselor and 4-H intern. I have also attended numerous
conferences and taught various classes.

Dean Burwash at the Oregon 4-H Center. Photo: Sarah LaDuke

I just attended the 4-H Summer Conference for the last time as a youth, and I will
be a Junior Camp Director at both 4-H Wild West Camps this summer. I have been
going to camp since I joined 4-H. This year for the fair, I plan to enter some photos, a
wood mosaic (which is incomplete) and other miscellaneous static exhibits.
Previously, I worked for Oregon State University as a student employee at the
Oregon 4-H Center. I spent almost every night last summer living there and getting to
participate in each camp beyond the normal workday. I taught all kinds of activities and
classes, including archery, leatherworking, ropes course, big swings, arts & crafts and
canoes. This was my first job, and I feel like it gave me some unrealistic work standards
because of my love for camp. I am glad that I now have a wider range of work
experience types. This summer is primarily online and last summer was spent teaching
outdoors all the time.

This summer, for my internship, I am primarily working on grant applications to
begin with. These include requests from 4-H clubs, getting robotics curriculum,
purchasing incubators and funding art/welding classes. I am looking forward to
improving my grant application skills and hopefully seeing positive results. I am also
excited to be creating social media posts and learning how to use our new embroidery
machine! So far, I have started some grant applications, and I am working on finding
more.

A man stands near a bucket in a field, holding a tube for collecting soil samples. — Extension Intern Keon Kiser collects soil samples at the OSU Extension Moro Station.
Photo credit: Jacob Powell

Hello readers of my second and final blog post of the summer of 2023! My name is Keon Kiser and I am a third-year OSU student studying environmental engineering. During my academic endeavors I have had the great privilege of working for the Wasco County OSU Extension office the past two summers. This blog post is a good opportunity to share my experiences with OSU Extension.

This past summer I’ve worked heavily with my supervisor, Lu Seapy, coworkers Bob M. and Susan M., and a fellow OSU intern, Theo Sandoz, on 4-H STEM summer camps. We worked together on organizing a variety of camps for youth that include hiking camps along the Columbia River, VEX robotics camps, Protobots, Drones and a Makey-Makey camp. In these camps we taught basic coding languages, physics of simple circuits, local biology, notebooking, and soldering skills. The variety of technical skills taught at these camps were a good application of skills I have learned in the past. But it was also a good learning experience, because I had to reach a certain level of mastery in order to teach each skill. For example, I have previous experience programming robots and creating engineering notebooks, but I had to practice my soldering skills as I had not soldered too much in the past. I had to constantly read up on local biology in order to teach the subject during the hiking camps. Also, I was given the task to independently lead a series of VEX Robotics and hiking camps. At the VEX camps I introduced the upcoming competition and focused on having the youth practice strategy, documentation, robot design and robot building. Then, at the series of 4-H hikes, I managed a group of youth and an assistant from The Dalles Parks and Recreation office. I contacted families and instructed campers in local biology.

Seven young people stand on a plateau with a river below and behind them. — Blejan, Evan, Christopher, Keon Kiser, Caleb, Nolan and Porter on a 4-H hike along the Rowena Plateau overlooking the Columbia River.
Photo credit: Stacey Ihrig

Aside from the 4-H STEM summer camps, I was able to work with Jacob Powell, a Sherman and Wasco County extension agent, on his wheat-crop research projects. The overall idea of the project was to study grain sizes and soil micronutrients like nitrogen and phosphate across various combinations of nitrogen levels and fertilizers to see if there were any significant differences in yield. During this time, I witnessed the importance of accounting for any possible variable that could affect the results. For example, Jacob and I did not see any real obvious differences in grain sizes across most of the treatments, which could imply that none of the treatments would be any better than another tested treatment. However, we had to take into account the weather, as it did not rain a lot over the summer. The crops probably did not have enough moisture to carry the nutrients up the wheat stocks. This was a great lesson for me as I intend to participate in a bioremediation research project back at OSU. Additionally, I was happy to see the information and results gathered and presented from the fire break trials I helped Jacob with the previous summer.

Overall, OSU Extension has provided me ample opportunity to hone technical skills (like soldering), to become a better team leader and teacher, and to experience contributing, in one way or another, in scientific research. I have had so much fun working with the youth and watching them learn and grow many new skills throughout the summer, and from year to year. Additionally, the staff at Wasco County are great people who truly live the OSU Extension mission of serving the community. Their friendliness made working fun and their focus challenged me to put forth my best effort. I would rate this experience as two thumbs up and a smiley ball 🙂. Thank you!

A lineup of people ready to start toy cars. — Kids built solar powered cars at the renewable energy summer camp at Columbia Gorge Community College.
Photo credit: Lu Seapy.

Hello, my name is Theo Sandoz, and I am excited to be back for my second year as an intern with Oregon State University Extension Service in Wasco County. I am a student at OSU studying nuclear engineering. Returning to the Wasco office feels like I never left, and the office is still as busy as ever. I am working alongside Keon Kiser who is also a returning intern for Wasco County. Our biggest project for the summer is planning and helping to facilitate S.T.E.M. day camps in Wasco County. There are other projects, especially those involving our county fair, that I am also very keen on doing.

First and foremost, we have our summer camps. So far, I have helped put on many day camps, including Aerodrone Academy, Galactic Quest and Renewables. The Areodrone camp had our campers learning how to program and fly small drones. Throughout this two-day camp we challenged all the campers to fly through and around obstacles and land on specific landing pads while directly controlling the drone and while the drone moved autonomously.

Another great camp that we put on is called Galactic Quest. The curriculum for this camp comes directly from national 4-H and was a blast. The campers made telescopes and cypher wheels and we played a lot of the Astro Adventure board game (Think Catan Spacefarers).

The most recent camp was our Renewables camp. In this two-day camp we spent the first day learning all about solar energy and then everyone built a small solar car and got to take it home. The second day was all about wind energy. With a few model turbines and some box fans we were able to turn the classroom into a wind tunnel and teach kids about turbine blade design and its effect on the power that wind turbines produce. The camps are incredibly fulfilling to put on as many of the campers get very invested in what we are teaching and bring their wild imagination to these fun events.

As August is fast approaching it is time to begin prepping for the Wasco County Fair and Rodeo. The Wasco County Fair runs Aug. 17-20 this year. This is my first year since 2012 that I have not participated in 4-H as a member. I still want to be as helpful as possible for those that are in 4-H and help put on an absolutely rocking fair and continue to do so for years to come. Because of my position as an intern, I have unique access to planning and operating certain events at the fair. I am most excited to work with Leah Lowe, Wasco County Extension 4-H program coordinator, on a new Livestock and Poultry Skill-a-Thon for the 2023 Fair. This is something that we started hosting last year and we plan to expand on last year’s vision and make the Skill-a-Thon a fully fledged event that can continue to be something 4-H members in Wasco County look forward to in years to come.

For the next month there are many more projects and camps that I cannot wait to tackle!

A man sits in front of two computer monitors with swirling blue images. — Swar Patel sits ready to help and learn.
Photo credit: Akash Kallem

Greetings, readers! I am Swar Patel, a passionate computer science graduate student, and I am thrilled to share my internship experience with the OSU Extension Service. In this blog, I will take you through the early stages of my journey, highlighting the invaluable lessons I have already learned and the exciting prospects that lie ahead.

Within the Extension Service, I have been entrusted with a crucial role in shaping the evaluation process of nationwide youth-based programming. Leveraging the powerful capabilities of Salesforce CRM, I am working alongside a team to design and develop tools and resources that will facilitate efficient program evaluation. By collaborating with project stakeholders, I aim to identify their business needs and translate them into technical solutions that align with our overarching objectives.

My supervisors, Lucas Turpin and Mark Kindred, have been exceptional mentors, providing invaluable guidance throughout my internship journey. Their expertise and experience have been instrumental in shaping my understanding of project management and technical problem-solving. Under their wings, I have had the opportunity to draft project management documents, assist in designing discussion activities during stakeholder meetings, and produce flow diagrams. Their support has enhanced not only my technical skills but also my ability to effectively communicate and collaborate within a professional setting.

Coming from a computer science background, my academic pursuits have provided me with a solid theoretical foundation. However, my internship at Extension Service has given me the chance to apply this knowledge in a practical and meaningful way. By actively participating in the project life cycle, I have gained invaluable hands-on experience in identifying technical solutions that align with stakeholder needs. This practical application of my skills has allowed me to witness first-hand the impact of technology in streamlining evaluation processes and improving youth-based programming.

One of the unique aspects of my internship is the ever-evolving nature of the deadlines. Determined on a rolling basis, these deadlines keep us on our toes, adapting and adjusting to the outcomes of stakeholder meetings. This dynamic environment has instilled in me the importance of effective time management and the ability to prioritize tasks based on evolving project requirements. Collaborating with my managers, stakeholders, and fellow interns, we work together to ensure that our deliverables meet the project’s objectives within the designated timeframes.

Although my internship is still ongoing, the growth I have experienced in this short period is remarkable. This opportunity has not only strengthened my technical skills but has also nurtured crucial soft skills such as effective communication, teamwork, and adaptability. Working alongside seasoned professionals has exposed me to industry best practices and methodologies, expanding my horizons and deepening my understanding of technology’s applications in solving real-world challenges.

As I continue my internship at Extension Service, I eagerly anticipate further growth and learning opportunities. With the guidance of my mentors, I aim to refine my technical skills and contribute more substantially to the evaluation process. Each day brings new challenges, but I am determined to embrace them wholeheartedly, knowing that they will shape my future endeavors in the field of computer science. I am grateful for this internship opportunity and confident that the knowledge and experiences I gain will lay a strong foundation for my professional career.

In conclusion, my internship at Extension Service has been a transformative journey thus far. Working with Salesforce CRM to empower the evaluation of youth-based programming has opened my eyes to the profound impact of technology in the education sector. The guidance and mentorship provided by Lucas Turpin and Mark Kindred have been invaluable, fostering both personal and professional growth. As I continue to learn and grow, I am excited to confront new challenges and contribute to the success of the organization.

Thank you for joining me on this exciting adventure and stay tuned for more updates as I navigate the world of computer science during my internship at Extension Service!

A young man sits in front of an orange wall with OSU Extension Service Wasco County written on it. He is holding up nature journals. — Keon Kiser at home in the Wasco County office of OSU Extension Service.
Photo credit Chelsie Gibson.

Welcome to my first blog post for the summer of 2023! I am Keon Kiser and I have just completed my second year studying environmental engineering at Oregon State University. If you are an avid reader of OSU’s intern blogs, then you may recognize me because I am returning for my second year as an OSU Extension Service intern in The Dalles, Wasco County. Once again I will be working alongside Lu Seapy, my supervisor, and the other interns in the 4-H STEM department helping to plan and manage STEM summer camps and assisting Jacob Powell, a wheat crop researcher, with his wheat-nitrogen absorption research.

As of this writing, I am beginning my third week of work and already I have helped manage the Aerial Robotics Camp, where we have taught youth basic safety, programming and controller drone skills. Coming up, I will be very busy leading a VEX IQ Workshop to help middle-schoolers prepare for the upcoming VEX IQ Competition, co-leading 4-H hikes along the Columbia River Gorge, managing a Protobot Camp to teach youth how to solder electronics, and assisting with many other STEM camps throughout the summer.

I returned to this internship for a few reasons. First, it was a ton of fun to work with my colleagues to create learning opportunities for youth in the STEM field and to watch them grow in technical skills and excitement for STEM and learning in general. Secondly, I get to be around a familiar community and I can continue to support my community by providing fun and new experiences for the youth. Finally, I am put in situations where I am challenged to improve many skills, like managing a workflow, leading conversations and cooperating with individuals.

To wrap up, I am very grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given to work with such great colleagues and community. The office mentality at the Wasco County OSU Extension Service is one where everyone has the same goal in providing the best learning opportunities as we possibly can for our community. Working for Extension not only has given me a greater appreciation and drive for community service, but it has also prepared me with skills and confidence for taking leadership roles in my future endeavors as a student at OSU and as an engineer in my career.

OSU Extension Internship Program

Category Archives: STEM

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Living the OSU Extension mission of serving the community

Cannot wait to tackle more projects and camps

Embarking on a transformative journey through my internship

Round 2! Let the 4-H Fun Begin!

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