Information for 4-H and Youth

Energy Education and Youth

One of the most critical needs for renewable and alternative energy education is with our youth. They will likely experience dramatic changes in energy consumption during their lifetime and need skills to understand the basic concepts of energy in our society and the fundamental concepts of sustainable alternative energy development.

Penn State Extension has a long history of effective youth and 4-H programs and we have played a key role in helping youth cope with changing technologies in many other areas. 

Extension educators are developing after school and youth education programs to focus on improving the understanding of the science of energy, forms of energy and energy transformations. Other topics include renewable and non renewable forms of energy, their development and use, and the impact on economics and the environment.

Renewable Energy Education in the Classroom

Renewable energy provides an excellent opportunity to engage high school students in an exciting emerging field, develop their interests in a new industry and link to other important subjects like chemistry and physics.

Penn State Extension is working with Vo-Ag teachers and FFA groups to better integrate these topics into the curriculum and to help develop demonstration and educational tools to address these topics.