Adriana Garcia-Lopez, 13, constructed a balloon car made from a paper cup, some sticks, and a plastic straw. She adjusted the wheels and expressed that it was “stressful” to try and get the little car to move.

“You’ve got to try, try again,” Garcia-Lopez explained. “It’s going to be OK. I’m figuring things out.”

Wednesday’s session was part of a six-week “Engineer-It” 4-H Adventure Club, offered by The Arc of Mower County and Mower County 4-H, which are after school sessions that allow youth between the ages of 12 to 21, to experiment with hands-on activities involving science, engineering and technology.

The afternoon program allowed Courtney Karnes, 20, of Austin, to make new friends and experiment with hands-on activities. Her personal favorite was building a clay boat and seeing how many pennies can float on it before sinking.

��I like making friends,” Karnes said. “I’m doing (another session) this summer.”

Earlier in the month, students were able to construct a marshmallow catapult, launch rockets, create floating clay boats and more. The first session of this new program brought about 10 people into a class, said April VonRuden, Mower County 4-H Coordinator, to which she considered to be a success.

With increased popularity, they plan to run additional summer sessions.

“It’s really about the ‘ah-ha’ moments,’” VonRuden said. “Children are doing things they didn’t think we possible, and are learning how to work through things even if it doesn’t always work on the first try. We’re hoping to expand from this and to continue to offer after-school programs.”

After constructing their balloon cars, the youth then raced them across the floor and tried to figure out whose would travel the farthest distance. Despite some not moving much — or at all—and some zipping through zig zag formations, there was plenty of laughter that rang throughout the space. Once the session is over, VonRuden added that the cars would be put on display at the upcoming Mower County Fair, and the youth can experience the judging process.

Weston Menuye, 12, and his mom, Tessa Smith, 41, both attended the Engineer-It! program together. Smith helped Menuye — who has a disability — with the construction of his balloon car and enjoyed seeing him having fun with other youth around his age. She expressed that having an after-school program such as Engineer-It! was beneficial for the community at large.

“It gets him away from the computer,” Smith said. “This (program) needs to get out there to other families that don’t know that this exists. They’re learning how to make things work through problem solving and being part of the community. There’s bowling, Twins games, fair nights … they need to know that this is available.”