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HILLSBORO - The Oregon 4-H Youth Tech Wizards Club in Washington County will soon introduce geographic information systems technology to club members following a $20,000 grant from Intel Corporation in Hillsboro.

The grant will support development of a GIS curriculum for the Washington County Tech Wizards 4-H club and pay for global positioning system units and other equipment that club members will use for GIS projects, according to Lisa Conroy, 4-H field faculty in the Washington County office of the Oregon State University Extension Service.

The 4-H Tech Wizards (formerly called the Web Wizards) club is part of the OSU Extension Service 4-H Youth Development Program in Washington County. The club is aimed at Latino youth and introduces members to information/computer technology and web page design, with the goal of helping them succeed in school and life.

"We are always looking for opportunities to broaden the scope of what we offer in 4-H Youth programs," said Conroy. "This Intel-funded GPS-GIS project is a wonderful addition to the Tech Wizards program, which has been very effective in introducing Latino youth to emerging technologies."

Conroy noted that Intel has been supportive of the Oregon 4-H Tech Wizards program, providing several grants for equipment and curriculum development since 1999. With the support of the grant, Conroy plans to launch a 4-H GPS-GIS Wizards Community Mapping Program this fall. Participating youth will use GIS technology and hand-held GPS units in several projects such as mapping affordable housing sites, tracking wildlife and mapping habitat areas, and mapping walking tours of local historic buildings.

For more information contact Lisa Conroy at the Washington County 4-H office, 503-725-2113.