Michigan State University Extension

4-H Youth Development

 

 

4-H Environmental & Outdoor Education

The Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council

4-H teens are providing important leadership for conserving Michigan's natural resources!M4-HYCC logo

The Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council (M4HYCC) offers:

  • A leadership and confidence-building opportunity for youth ages 13 to 19.
  • Acquisition of important life skills, experiences, knowledge and understanding of current environmental issues.
  • A chance to explore solutions to environmental issues and provide “youth voice” in state government public policy-making.
  • Exposure to a number of career possibilities and mentoring from caring adults.
  • Life-long benefits for teens as future community leaders and stewards of Michigan’s natural resources. 
  • New friendships with others from across Michigan.

The program selects 25 youth from around the state in the fall of each year.  The youth that apply for M4-HYCC typically have an interest in natural resources, environmental problems, outdoor recreation and/or politics.

Download a promotional MS PowerPoint presentation for more information about M4-HYCC. Use it to promote M4-HYCC in your county!

Group Activity

Ricky Tanis, a second year member (2007-2009) from Lapeer County talks about his M4-HYCC experience:  “When I first joined the council, I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but once I arrived, I found out that being a part of M4-HYCC was a chance to be with other teenagers like me, who want to make a difference in today’s world.  Everything we did, we worked together and helped each other out.  We would talk, work, research and of course, laugh together, making everything we did, whether in work or play, enjoyable.”

GroupBecome a Council Member!

Find out more by downloading these materials:

Making a Difference

M4-HYCC was created by the Michigan Senate in 1999 and is coordinated by Michigan 4-H Youth Development.  Each year M4-HYCC members select and research a current environmental issue. They interview people, listen to presentations by professionals, surf the Internet, and read books and articles on the chosen topic. Around Earth Day (April 22) each year, council members testify about their research before a Michigan legislative committee. Their intensive research and testimony have made a difference:

  1. M4-HYCC members testified for a bill introduced in 2000 (and passed in 2002) that promoted the development of the Michigan heritage water trail program.
  2. In 2003, their recommendations led to the introduction of a bill in the state Senate that directed the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to include information in its boating safety course on proper marine fueling techniques, the problems that marine fuel spills may cause to lakes and rivers, and how and where to report a marine fuel spill.
  3. In 2008, they influenced the passing of SB (senate bill) 152 and 362 by giving testimony to both the House and Senate Committees. This public policy was signed by the governor as Michigan law to significantly reduce the amounts of phosphorus permitted in dishwasher and laundry detergents.  High levels of phosphorus in Michigan lakes and rivers have had harmful effects on wildlife and people.  

We invite you to make a difference through involvement in M4-HYCC or a county-based 4-H youth conservation council!

Training WorkshopsIn the M4-HYCC News!

For the 2009-10 program year, the Dow Chemical Company Foundation has provided first year 4-HYCC grants to Iosco, Ingham, Emmet and Sanilac Counties. These four new teams will move forward this fall with training by M4-HYCC teen and adult advisors on how to select and research a local conservation issue and prepare to influence public policy in their county, city or township government. Dow Chemical Company Foundation 4-HYCC grants also support an opportunity for a second year to Lapeer, Washtenaw, Macomb, Monroe, Barry, Grand Traverse, and Saginaw Counties. The 2008-2009 funding for these counties, plus Oakland County, to support the first year of operation was given by DTE Energy Company Foundation.

Check the 4-H EOE Grants, Contests, Training & Other Opportunities Web site for 2009 4-HYCC grant opportunities.

Sponsors

M4-HYCC sponsors include:

  • The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
  • Donors to the Michigan 4-H Foundation

It's a Winner!

M4-HYCC is an award-winning program! It has been awarded:

  • 2005 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Youth Environmental Award
  • 2004 Michigan State University Extension John Hannah Award for Program Excellence
  • 2004 Sea World/Busch Gardens/Fujifilm Environmental Excellence Award
  • 2003 Michigan Senate White Pine Award for Environmental Excellence

Current Activities

You can find out more about the current activities of the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council at http://web4.msue.msu.edu/4hycc/.

Online Resources

  • Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council News Clip
    View a news clip produced by Michigan State University Extension, that was distributed to Michigan television stations the week of February 18, 2001. (Time: 1:20)
    Introduction: Do your kids ever say that adults just don't listen to them? Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council coordinator, Andrea Grix, and others are working with one group of teenagers to make an effort to get adults to listen to what they have to say about the environment.

  • Lessons Learned in 4-H Environmental Programming (Adobe PDF format. Requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, available from http://www.Adobe.com ) This publication from the National 4-H Council was developed as a result of the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council (and programs from 2 other states) receiving the 2005 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Youth Environmental Award.
  • Septic Educational Program To Instill Conservation (SEPTIC) (Adobe PDF format. Requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, available from http://www.Adobe.com )
    The Septic Educational Program To Instill Conservation (SEPTIC) educational materials include a set of activities created by young people aged 13 to 19 who were members of the 2004-05 Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council (M4-HYCC). The young people worked in partnership with adult M4-HYCC advisors and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality professionals to create fun, educational activities. The SEPTIC activities and information was designed or selected by youth for youth to enjoy learning about what septic systems are and how they function, why septic systems fail, how periodic maintenance can prevent septic system failures, and what effect failing septic systems have on groundwater. SEPTIC also includes information developed by Michigan State University Extension, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (4-H Youth Development, Michigan State University Extension, http://web1.msue.msu.edu/cyf/youth/m4hycc.html, 2005)

Grants, Contests, Training & Other Opportunities

For 4-H Environmental and Outdoor Education-related grants, contests, training and other opportunities check the 4-H EOE Grants, Contests, Training & Other Opportunities Web site frequently.

For more upcoming training and events in Michigan 4-H, check the 4-H Volunteer Workshops web site, the MSU Extension Calendar and the 4-H Exploration Days web site.

Contact Information

For more information on how to get involved as a youth or volunteer, contact your county MSU Extension office or:

Andrea Grix
M4-HYCC Coordinator
14901 4H Drive
Tustin, MI 49688
USA

Email: agrix@kettunencenter.org
Phone: (231) 829-3421

Copyright © 1999 - 2009 Michigan State University
Last Updated: November 5, 2009
Last Reviewed: April 20, 2009