The Madison Parish Community Center buzzed with activity May 28–30 as local students took part in a three-day 4-H STEM Camp, exploring the worlds of drones, robotics, and hands-on engineering challenges.
Organized by Madison Parish 4-H Agent Andrea Jinks, the camp welcomed up to 20 students, with 15 attending on the second day. The program offered three main activity tracks: drone flight and safety, robotics building and coding, and an engineering challenge dubbed "Marshmallow Madness," where students constructed towers, catapults, and solar ovens using everyday materials.
Candler Hamilton is shown how to fly the drone by instructor Benita Komunjeru. | Timothy Holdiness
“The future is science and technology,” said Jinks. “This camp gives students a chance to learn STEM skills in a fun, flexible setting outside the classroom.”
Guest instructors included Fonia Davison-Hinds, a business and computer studies teacher from Madison High School, who led the robotics component, and Benita Komunjeru, a graduate assistant with Louisiana 4-H, who guided students in flying drones as part of an agricultural career exploration program.
Students responded with enthusiasm. Sixth grader Hartlea Johnston, from Tallulah Academy, called the camp “a lot of fun,” especially the marshmallow tower challenge. Keontae Jones, an eighth grader at Delhi Charter School, said flying drones for the first time was “awesome.”
Jinks emphasized the importance of keeping students engaged in science over the summer to reduce learning loss and spark interest in future careers. “They’ve been so excited,” she said. “Parents told us this is all they’ve talked about.”
