MARION, Iowa USA — At the Team America Rocket Challenge (TARC) finals this past May 19th, the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) and the National 4H Headquarters announced a national partnership, with the 4-H developing a prominent role in the Team America Rocketry Challenge for 2008.

The purpose of this partnership is to get more of our nation's youth into flying rockets and forming or joining rocket clubs, which will in turn lead to more TARC teams and more people joining NAR along with the ultimate goal of directing these youths into becoming scientists and engineers. Recent meetings between NAR and the 4H indicate the implementation of a solid action plan to assist the development of this strategic partnership.

The 4H has thousands of participants nationally, made of up their youth members, adult volunteers who direct them, and the associated clubs. Following the national mandate to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematic education, the 4H is seeking to do more science-related activities. The partnership with NAR exposes them to members who have rocketry expertise, a proven youth mentoring activity. As a result, the NAR, as well as the local sections, can survive and grow by reaching out to make new contacts through this relationship.

The four 4-H clubs who participated in the 2007 TARC event — the Dakota County 4-H Federation of Farmington, MN, the Hearty Homers 4-H Club of Cottage Grove, MN, the Washington County 4-H Club of Slinger, WI, and the Flying Tigers 4-H Aerospace Club of Germantown, MD — meet with Dr. Buzz Aldrin. Photo: National 4H Council.

Working together, 4H clubs and local NAR sections could hold sport launches, conduct contests or TARC activities. The two groups can participate in building sessions, or training, working on interesting science fair projects using rocketry as the subject. 4H has a need for innovative ideas for the students who participate in the many state fair events where rocketry could be used. The two organizations, the 4H and NAR, can elevate each other's visibility in their communities by mutually serving the needs and activities of young people.

What all of this means to the NAR and their local sections is that a fresh group of smiling faces will be seeking them out this coming year, looking for assistance to do what we all know and love: flying rockets. Whether they are looking for assistance in forming a TARC team or just information on how to get started, they should be greeted receptively when they show up. NAR sections should be actively look for local 4H groups in their area, extending personal invitations to come and visit them at their launches and section meetings, as well as visiting the 4H club meetings to discuss the hobby of rocketry or even perform demonstration launches. With the number of 4H adult volunteers, experienced in conducting youth activities, there should be no shortage of assistance for the logistics and operation of rocket launches.

Working as a formal partnership, the 4H and the NAR are striving to meet the specific objective established by the group's leadership, that of reaching 100,000 students through rocketry within the next five years. As a result, 4H will be come a visible presence in the Team America Rocket Challenge over that time as many new teams will be forming and entering. NAR sections will grow as a result of new 4H members joining thereby increasing model rocketry activities in those sections, while the 4H groups will become more versed in science due to their exposure to the NAR, all built on one-on-one personal relationships.

According to Vince Huegele, NAR Education Committee Chair, "We're about to have new friends fly with us. Welcome them."

For more information on the NAR-4H partnership, visit http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/nar.aspx.