4-H Youth Development

Our Youth. Our Nation’s Future

Our team of 4-H agents and specialists are committed to providing high-quality positive youth development opportunities around STEM topics to the youth of the Lower and Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Specialties & Ready-to-go Lessons

In addition to creating STEM programs at UMES, we encourage community organizations and schools to request help from any member of our team to deliver lessons at their events and classrooms. We can offer help in the following ways:

In-school enrichment lessons
Afterschool program enrichment lessons
Workshops & short-term experiences (ex: day camps)
Professional development for educators and teen counselors
STEM curriculum training for educators
Consultations on new program designs
Support for program evaluations and research projects
Equipment, curriculum booklets, and other resources

To request help from our staff, simply contact the person below who best matches your needs. If you are unsure who is the best match, please contact Ariel Clay at amclay@umes.edu or 410-651-6724 and she will be happy to advise you.

Ag Day with UMES Extension, Junior Achievement

UMES Extension agent Diamond Nwaeze instructs students from Woodson Elementary School on how to make seed bombs. Over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
Students from Greenwood Elementary School make seed bomb as part of the UMES Extension/4-H display at the center. Over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
Russell Glover and Kabrayah Bourckley from Woodson Elementary School make seed bombs. Over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
Ricky Pollitt with Junior Achievement welcomes over 170 Somerset County Students during Ag Day. Over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
Ricky Pollitt with Junior Achievement welcomes over 170 Somerset County Students during Ag Day. Over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
Jayme Hayes, executive director of Junior Achievement welcomes over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
Baybees Honey owner Lauren Pascarella shows students from Prince Street Elementary school how to find the queen bee during her demonstration. Over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
Representatives from Delmarva Chicken Association explain how a chicken house work to over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
Cathy Bassett with Mountaire Chicken talks to over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
A Prince Street student tours the Maryland Department of Agriculture learning bus as over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
UMES Extension agents Jeremiah Mowen, second from right, and Diamond Nwaeze, right, instructs students from Prince Street Elementary School on how to make seed bombs. Over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
Christian Elliott of Greenwood Elementary School tries on a bee keeper hood at Ag Day. Over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)
Students from Prince Street Elementary School wave from inside a Atlantic Tractor as over 250 fifth graders from Wicomico and Somerset counties went on a field trip to Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury for AG Day at the center, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Todd Dudek, Ag Communications Photographer)

Ariel Clay

Specialties & Ready-to-Go Lessons:

Educator Development

4-H Staff
Youth-Serving Volunteers
School Teachers
Afterschool Program Staff
Teens-as-Teachers

Curriculum Development

Program Design & Evaluation

Animal & Avian Science

ChickQuest
Avian Science Bowl

Students work on stomp rockets during the STEM summer camp at Salisbury Middle School held at the school July 12, 2023. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications Photographer)

Almost 100 students from Caroline County visited the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Paul S. Sarbanes Coastal Ecology Center on Monday, April 1, 2024 to learn about ecology of the shore by University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension Agents as part of their 4-H program. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Ag Communications)

Brad Hartle

Specialties & Ready-to-Go Lessons:

Marine Science

Squid Anatomy (Dissection)
Shark Biology
Fish Adaptation
Turtle Hurdles – Project Wild Aquatic
Water Chemistry
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Schooling Fish Sticks

Climate Science

Weather vs Climate
Sea Level Rise
Solar Energy
Hydrologic Cycle

Conservation

Oh Deer – Project Wild
Esmeralda’s Island
Plants of the Forest

Soil Investigations

Soil Chemistry
Soil Texture
Soil Porosity & Permeability

Physics

Power of the Wind
Rockets to the Rescue
Density Divers

Engineering Challenges

Strawbridge Challenge
Ecobots Challenge
Penny Boat Challenge

Navigation

GPS Clue
Orienteering

Miscellaneous Lessons

Fossil Hunt/Archeology Dig
Edible Entomology
Owl Pellet Dissection
Strawberry DNA Extraction
Fingerprinting
Cool It – Lizard Thermoregulation
Animal Olympics
Nocturnal Adaptations
Butter Making (Changes of Matter)

Email: bhartle@umes.edu

Phone: 410-651-6729

Jeremiah Mowen

Specialties & Ready-to-Go Lessons:

Robotics

LEGO WeDos
VEX
Mindstorms
FTC

Rocketry

Water Bottle Rocket Launchers
Water Pressure Rockets
Stomp Rockets

Coding/Programming

Scratch

Engineering

Spoon Catapult

Forestry

Junior Master Gardener

Plant Press
Soil Ball Competition
Vermicomposting
Paper Pot Making

Email: jlmowen@umes.edu

Phone: 410-422-3005

Evjanae Broome puts together a robot during a visit from Jeremiah Mowen, a UMES Extension Agent, to the Upward Bound program in Princess Anne Monday, July 10, 2023. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communication Photographer)

Students from Washington High School and Wicomico County Schools visit UMES during the UMES 4-H STEM College Day on campus. They were introduced to Physics, Engineering and Aviation Science, the Pharmacy program, The Entrepreneurship Center, Biomedical and Aerospace Engineering. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communication Photographer)

Diamond Nwaeze

Specialties & Ready-to-Go Lessons:

College & Career Readiness

Building the Framework: Searching for Scholarships
Etiquette & You
Navigating Pre-College Programs
Majors & Areas of Study: What is best for you?

Nutrition Science

Agriculture & Community Gardening

Creation of a Vegetable Crop
Teatime in the Garden!
Not Just Seeds!
Closing Up Shop: How to prep your garden for next spring

Email: dcnwaeze@umes.edu

Phone: 410-651-6724

Kids learn technology in design with UMES Extension

Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggie, UMES Extension and 4-H specialists, gave an introduction to technology in fashion designing to kids at The Salvation Army’s Boys and Girls Club summer camp in Salisbury. The kids learnt how to design and make their own personalized tote bags using a Cricut machine.

Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teach children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teaches Aaliyah Burton, 9, and Samayah Phillips how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Samayah Phillips, 8 works on her bag she made with the help of Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teach children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Samayah Phillips, 8, details her stencil during a session from Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, that taught children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teaches Kyra Atta-Obeng, 9, how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Marcy Mitchell, 9, and Samayah Phillips, 8, work on their bags they made with the help of Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teach children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Samayah Phillips, 8, display her bag they made with the help of Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teach children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teaches Charlie Stanley, 9, how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Samayah Phillips, 8, left, watches Aaliyah Burton, 7, peel off her stencil as Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, taught children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Aaliyah Burton, 7, works on the bag she made during a session with Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist. They taught the children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Aaliyah Burton, 7, shows off the bag she made during a session with Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist. They taught the children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Marcy Mitchell, 9, and Kyra Atta-Obeng, 9, work on transferring their stencil onto a beach bag while Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, taught children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Samayah Phillips, 8, Aaliyah Burton, 7, Marcy Mitchell, 9, and Kyra Atta-Obeng. 9, display their bags they made with the help of Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teach children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Ariel Clay, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teach children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teach Marcy Mitchell, 9, and Kyra Atta-Obeng, 9, how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Ariel Clay, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teaches Aaliyah Burton, 9, and Samayah Phillips how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Samayah Phillips, 8, works on her bag she made with the help of Ariel Clay and Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teach children how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)

Theresa Maggio, UMES Extension and 4-H specialist, teaches Kam Leggett, 14, and Kyra Atta-Obeng, 9, and Marcy Mitchell, 9, how to use a Cricut Machine during summer camp at the Salvation Army Boys and Girls in Salisbury. (Photo by Todd Dudek, UMES Agriculture Communications)