4-H youth get under the hood at Auto 101 workshop

WASHINGTON — Ten Washington County 4-H members grabbed tire gauges, checked dipsticks and stepped onto a service bay floor last Saturday, Dec. 6, as part of an Auto 101 workshop designed to teach young people not only how cars run, but why basic maintenance matters.

The two-hour “Auto 101: Tires to tuneups” class, hosted at Capper Auto Group in Washington, gave students an “up-close look at the inner workings of an automotive shop” through demonstrations and a guided tour.

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Washington County 4-H Youth Coordinator Amy Green especially expressed gratitude to Capper Auto’s General Manager Jeremy Capper “for sharing your time, knowledge and space.”

Capper, who led the workshop, said inviting youth into a working shop offered a simple but meaningful payoff.

“I think it’s just a great opportunity for the kids to come in and get some hands-on experience if that’s something they’re interested in, not everybody is, but it’s good to know,” he said.

Students rotated through maintenance basics, he said, including checking tire pressure, adding air, checking washer fluid, jump-starting a vehicle and learning how to read an oil cap before adding the correct oil type.

“We showed them how to pull the dipstick, wipe the dipstick off, check the oil level,” Capper said. “Just your very basic car maintenance stuff.”

Capper said he hoped students would ask questions and participate — and they did.

“They asked great questions, and most of them were willing to jump right in and try it,” he said. “It was a really neat deal. We’ve never done it before.”

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The workshop drew 10 youth — “about six boys and four girls,” according to Capper — and he said he would “for sure” be willing to host it again in the future.

Organizers promoted the session as an interactive way to help young people understand the importance of vehicle care and consider auto service as a future career path.

“The Capper Auto Group revved up some real-world learning … while also exploring what a future career in automotive mechanics could look like,” the club said. “Through hands-on experiences that build life skills and spark confidence, our youth are becoming Beyond Ready for whatever road lies ahead.”

The program reflects a national need. The TechForce Foundation’s 2024 technician supply report estimates an industry shortfall of 800,000 automotive, diesel and collision repair technicians over the next five years as skilled workers retire and fewer young people enter the trades. Meanwhile, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 80,000 auto service openings annually nationwide through 2032.

Industry experts say early exposure is one way to narrow the gap. According to TechForce, career exploration opportunities in middle and high school increase the likelihood a student will pursue technical training or certification later.

For youth, the benefits extend beyond job prospects. AAA research in 2023 found that 46% of young drivers feel unprepared to handle basic vehicle emergencies. Learning how to check fluids, understand tire pressure or interpret maintenance schedules increases confidence and reduces breakdown risk, the group says.

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Washington County 4-H framed Auto 101 as exactly that kind of confidence builder. The workshop, offered for a $5 fee, focused on practice over lecture. Students were invited to try procedures themselves — turning wrenches, topping off fluids and maneuvering hoses.

The class was part of the county’s Winter Project Extravaganza — a day that also featured welding practice, floral art and service sewing.

A 2024 National 4-H Council report notes that 85% of youth involved in hands-on project learning like this say they feel more prepared for adulthood. Career awareness, problem-solving and self-reliance rank among the benefits youth identify most often.

For the Capper Auto Group staff, the goal was simple: help the next generation see value in the trades while teaching skills they will one day need behind the wheel. Whether any participants return as future technicians remains unknown, but leaders say early lessons stick.

“Thank you, Capper Auto Group, for helping our 4-H’ers tune up their knowledge and drive their skills forward,” Washington County 4-H wrote.

After two hours under shop lights, oil-stained rags and tool talk, organizers say participants left with new awareness — how vehicles stay road-ready and how someone might choose to make a living keeping them that way.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com