Michigan State University Extension

4-H Youth Development

 

 

4-H Exploration Days

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Shaping 4-H for the 21st Century

"Shaping 4-H for the 21st Century"
4-H Exploration Days
June 23 to 25, 2010
Michigan State University

Page Contents:

4-H Exploration Days Event Overview

4-H Exploration Days is an annual MSU pre-college program that attracts approximately 2500 youth participants and chaperones who represent all 83 Michigan counties.

A downloadable version of the one-page 2009 evaluation report is available below:

Filename: ED-09EvalSummary.doc (MS Word format)

4-H Exploration Days is designed to:

  • Help you learn new ideas, techniques and skills you can use personally and in your 4-H groups and communities.
  • Offer in-depth action learning through sessions in your interest areas.
  • Provide opportunities and experiences above and beyond what is available in your county or region.
  • Enhance your personal growth by giving you opportunities to develop responsibility, independence, accountability, decision-making, time management and teamwork skills.
  • Meet new people and make new friends from different places and with different backgrounds from across the state.
  • Give you access to the Michigan State University campus and its wealth of resources.

Nearly 200 fun, action-filled classroom and field trip sessions are offered annually. The sessions take place throughout the Michigan State University campus and at various off-campus locations. Participants attend one or two sessions throughout their three-day stay. They are housed in three Michigan State University residence halls.

Resource people include 4-H campus and county staff, subject-matter campus specialists and members of 4-H volunteer and member advisory committees. Together they determine and develop the content for the vast selection of sessions. They also serve as session instructors and helpers during the event. 4-H members and volunteers receive higher caliber training during the sessions than what may be available in their local communities or counties.

Participant evaluation responses are overwhelmingly positive. Parents and 4-H volunteers have remarked that they notice many improvements in their children's interest, knowledge and social skills after they attend 4-H Exploration Days. Participants often return to MSU as students due to the positive experiences they've had during 4-H Exploration Days.

When

The next 4-H Exploration Days will be held June 23-25, 2010 (Wednesday to Friday.)

For Whom

To attend the event you must be at least aged 11 by January 1, 2010, or older at the discretion of your county. Adults should not attend solely for their own personal growth and development. Each adult is needed to serve as a session host, activity host, instructor, session helper, or county conference assistant, in addition to the role he or she plays as a staff member or volunteer chaperone for a county delegation. There must be at least one chaperone for every 10 youths of the same gender. Participants attending 4-H Exploration Days come from rural, suburban and urban communities. Some scholarships are available to assist those who can not participate without financial assistance. Every county has its own procedure for selecting participants and adult chaperones.

Fees

The full-time registration fee for 2010 will be $165. The fee for youth who aren't 4-H members includes an additional $10 4-H participation fee. The registration fee includes all meals, shared lodging, a T-shirt and sessions. A commuter rate that doesn’t include meals or lodging is also available.

Volunteer instructors, session helpers and county conference assistants attend the event at no cost. County-based MSU Extension staff who serve as session instructors or CCAs will receive full scholarships; county staff who serve as session helpers will receive $80 scholarships.

Prepayment deposits are fully refundable only until the no charge cancellation deadline of 5 p.m. on May 14, 2010. There is a $50 cancellation fee for participants who cancel 2 to 30 days before the event. A $75 no show fee will be incurred by participants who cancel the day before Exploration Days starts or don't show up to the event.

Registration Information

Each year, 4-H Exploration Days registration materials are available on-line and from county MSU Extension offices in March. The 4-H Exploration Days Registration Book offers a complete listing of the sessions and details on the current year's event. The choice of which sessions to take is yours to make!

Registration begins March 23, 2010. The deadline for returning your registration form to your county MSU Extension office can vary from county to county (typically the end of April), but don't wait -- some sessions fill quickly on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact the 4-H staff in your county MSU Extension office for more information on 4-H Exploration Days, and the details for your county's delegation.

Video and Podcast Previews of the Event

 

Information for Registered Participants

Exploration Days is several months away, but if you are wondering what to expect, you can check out the past event’s 2009 Activity Guide. The 2010 4-H Exploration Days Activity Guide will be available in the spring. For more information on 4-H Exploration Days, contact the 4-H staff in your county MSU Extension office.

Residence Hall Information

MSU residence halls will provide each participant with a towel, 2 sheets, pillow and pillow case. (Washclothes are not provided.)

MSU residence halls do not have a working telephone in each lodging room. Instead, only one or two rooms per floor will have a working phone. Rooms with phones should be designated for county conference assistants and/or 4-H staff when individual room assignments are made at the county level.

Each residence hall will have one phone in the lobby from which credit card or calling card calls may be made. Pre-paid calling cards can be purchased from the hall Sparty Convenience Stores. Pay phones are not available at MSU.

Related Programs

4-H Exploration Days is just one of many 4-H program offerings. For more information please visit the Michigan 4-H Youth Development Web site home page at http://web1.msue.msu.edu/cyf/youth/.

For information about the pre-college programs offered at MSU, please visit Spartan Youth Programs at http://www.spartanyouth.msu.edu. You'll find a multitude of programs that can help you develop valuable skills, make new friends and taste college life. Expand your horizons by attending an MSU pre-college program this year.

Contact Information

For more information on 4-H Exploration Days, contact:

Pat Talbot, Project Event Coordinator
4-H Youth Development
Michigan State University
160 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI  48824-1039
USA

Phone: 517-432-7616
Fax: 517-355-6748
Email: talbotp@msu.edu

Judy Ratkos, Program Leader
4-H Youth Development
Michigan State University
160 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI  48824-1039
USA

Phone: 517-432-7613
Fax: 517-355-6748
Email: ratkos@msu.edu

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Copyright © 1999-2009 Michigan State University
Last Updated: December 9, 2009
Last Reviewed: December 9, 2009