RALEIGH -- Students in North Carolina are teaming up with other students from around the nation for the National Science Experiment. Donald Floyd is  President and CEO of the National 4-H Council, and he says the "4-H Maps and Apps"  project is crucial in shaping the next generation of geo-spatial thinkers.

Floyd said, "Our educational system is ranked 48th in the world in preparing young people for STEM careers- science, technology, engineering, and math. And 4-H is stepping up to contribute to this very serious problem we have in the country." North Carolina has 235,000 youth in the 4-H program which is run by NC State and NC A&T.