Events
4-H Exploration Days
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Annual MSU pre-college program that attracts approximately 2500 youth participants and chaperones representing all 83 Michigan counties.
4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp
Location: Camp Chickagami, Presque Isle County, MI
MSU pre-college program teaches youth about Michigan’s diverse natural resources, Great Lakes ecosystems and outdoor recreation opportunities such as charter fishing, kayaking, sailing and snorkeling.
Junior Citizen Planner
In order to make a long-term impact on land use, today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders must be equipped with effective land use decision-making tools. The Junior Citizen Planner (JCP) program is a joint effort between MSU Extension’s Citizen Planner Program and 4-H Youth Development to promote youth land use education. The program is offered as an optional certificate program.
Target Audience, Skills and Curriculum
Junior Citizen Planner targets youth in the classroom and 4-H Club setting but may also be used with day and summer camp programs, Scouts, Campfire, and other youth programs. The program develops participant’s skills in becoming good citizens, responsible decision-makers and will develop community pride. The primary subject areas covered in the program are:
- Social Studies, Civics and Community
- Geography
- Environmental Science and Land Use Planning
- Land Use Technology (GIS, GPS)
Activities are posted in PDF format on the Junior Citizen Planner Program web site under the "Curriculum" menu bar. The activities have been certified to meet both, the Michigan Curriculum Framework Content Standards and Benchmarks, as well as the Kent County Core Curriculum for 3rd - 5th grades, however, the activities are appropriate for participants up to age 13 (8th grade). The activities are not specific to Kent County, they are relevant on a statewide basis.
Benefits to Educators and Youth:
- Fun and creative teaching strategies and learning methods, including experiential and hands-on components.
- Easy to follow materials and flexible lesson plans.
- Activities / lesson plans meet the Michigan standards and benchmarks and are listed by their numerical code and written out completely.
- An unbiased introduction to controversial land use issues, presenting all sides of an issue in a fair and honest manner.
- Activities that build knowledge and skills for inquiry, investigation, analysis, decision-making and action.
- Projects that can be displayed at fairs, in a class celebration or for guest speakers.
- Evaluation strategies directed toward a variety of learning styles that assess student learning.
- Adaptation ideas and technology extensions on activities to further student understanding and investigation.
- Background information, additional data, facts resources and reference material for each lesson plan.
Contact
For more information on how to get involved as a youth or volunteer, contact your county MSU Extension office or:
Judy Ratkos, Program Leader
Phone: 517-432-7613
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
News
7th annual 4-H Day at the Breslin celebrates youth development and Spartan Women’s Basketball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) 4-H Youth Development will cheer on the MSU women’s basketball team as they take on Ohio State during their Jan. 15 home game at the MSU Breslin Center. “MSUE 4-H Day at the Breslin” is a celebration of the MSUE 4-H program in Michigan.
At last – someone’s taking responsibility!
4-H’s new program, "Join the Revolution of Responsibility," puts a spotlight on all those making a difference in their communities, watching over our natural resources and creating new businesses. It isn’t just politicians or public officials on the front lines of tackling these issues—it’s 4-H members throughout Michigan.
Michigan 4-H invites community to an evening in the garden
Michigan 4-H Youth Development will host its first 4-H Evening in the Garden event, Tuesday, Aug. 16, as a recruitment opportunity, a chance for current 4-H’ers to showcase their projects and an occasion to present activities for hands-on participation.
4-H Participants prepare to present environmental research to State Senate Committee
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Twenty-five members of the Michigan 4-H Youth Conservation Council (M4HYCC) are finalizing their research on Michigan wetland conservation to make their way to the state Capitol, April 28.