I'm Sarai again, and I'm eight years old. My father signed me up for this thing called 4-H YES, which stands for Youth Experiences in Science. It's for kids ages 5 to 8, so I'm one of the oldest there, which makes me feel grown-up! We do experiments every week, like mixing baking soda and vinegar to make volcanoes erupt. It's so cool to see the foam go everywhere!

One time, we planted seeds and watched them grow. I learned that plants need water, sunlight, and soil to live. We even measured how tall they got each week. My bean plant grew the tallest of everyone's! The lady who runs the program says science is about asking questions and finding answers. I asked why the sky is blue, and she showed me a book with pictures that explained it.

“Science is about asking questions and finding answers.”
— Sarai's 4-H YES program leader

The best part is that we get to touch things and do stuff with our hands, not just sit and listen. We use magnifying glasses to look at bugs and leaves. I found a ladybug once and it was so pretty with its red shell and black spots. My sister Alani wants to come next time, even though she's only five.

4-H YES is everywhere in Sacramento County, not just in the Pocket. That's because lots of kids need to learn science, and this program makes it fun. I want to be a scientist when I grow up, maybe one who studies animals or planets. Thanks to 4-H YES, I know I can do it if I keep asking questions and exploring.

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Sarai Moten is a staff reporter at The Kid Reporter based in Sacramento, CA. To read more of her work, visit the newsroom →