Wyatt Powers: from 4-H to TEDx

“When I was six years old, we hit the road!”

And so begins Wyatt Powers’ tale of his childhood: traveling around the country in an RV with his mother, who homeschooled him. Wyatt volunteered in several states, visited museums, and attended night sky lectures. Now 19, Wyatt raved about the experience, stating his unconventional childhood enabled him to visit the National Parks and “feel the draft of the Grand Canyon.”

Sometimes, however, Wyatt and his mother stayed put for a while. While living in Massachusetts, Wyatt joined Massachusetts 4-H. He fondly remembers his experiences in the Science Pirates 4-H Club, where he built and launched rockets and learned about human anatomy.

The Science Pirates also gave Wyatt his start in public speaking, and he delivered his first Visual Presentation about a prehistoric sea creature. Wyatt said he was initially very reluctant to present, but that soon changed, and he gave a Visual Presentation at The Big E.   “I found the joy of sharing what I loved with other people,” he explained. “That inspired me to join Toastmasters.”

His experiences in Toastmasters developed his presentation skills, and a mentor from the organization suggested to apply to give a TEDx talk. In 2022, Wyatt delivered two TED talks to audiences within a month: How RV Schooling Taught Me IQ, EQ, and NQ (Nature Quotient) and a second talk about experiential learning in the National Parks.

Currently in his third year at New Mexico Highlands University, Wyatt is studying Organizational Leadership and Public Safety. “I hope to pursue government communications,” said Wyatt.

From the RV and 4-H to the hallowed halls of government? It seems likely for Wyatt.