MSU Extension 4-H

Key Figures

• 9,477 participants in 2022 Michigan 4-H career exploration and workforce development programs

• 245 Michigan 4-H career exploration and workforce development programs offered in 2022

Priority Areas

Michigan State University Extension offers 4-H Youth Development programs that assist youth in preparing for and finding gainful employment and educational opportunities.

These programs focus on:

• Entrepreneurship
• Financial literacy
• Career exploration
• Workforce preparation

In addition to equipping young Michiganders with the skills and competencies critical to any job, these experiences allow youth to explore careers in a safe and informative way.

Impacts

As a result of Michigan 4-H career exploration and workforce development activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to make important decisions about their professional future, ready to contribute to the labor force and able to take fiscal responsibility in their personal lives.

Of youth surveyed in 2022:

• 100% were aware of how they could use their skills to become an entrepreneur. 
• 94% were aware of qualities needed to be successful in a job or career.
• 89% could connect their interests and skills to career options.
• 86% said they look at the steps needed to achieve a goal when setting one.
• 74% planned to buy their needs first and limit their wants.

For more information about MSU Extension’s career exploration and workforce preparation programs and resources, contact 4-Hcareerprep@msu.edu or visit us online.

"I have learned the difference between needs and wants and it will help me save my money and not spend it." -— Youth participant in a Michigan 4-H career exploration and workforce preparation program

Science Careers Full Steam Ahead

STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) technologies and careers are ever expanding, making it increasingly important for today’s youth to be equipped with skills and knowledge in these important areas. However, STEAM education opportunities are not equally available to all Michigan youth.

In 2021, MSU Extension 4-H Youth Development first launched 4-H Clovers CODE (Creating Opportunities Designed for Everyone), a program to expose youth in underserved areas with high growth, high paying jobs in technical and creative career pathways. Supported by a gift from Apple, the 2022 program operated in southeast Michigan’s Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, helping youth to explore coding and creative arts through technology.

Throughout 2022, 4-H Clovers CODE held short-term 4-H SPIN (SPecial INterest) clubs, community clubs and summer camps in the areas of coding, photography, video, drawing and music. In addition, they used iPad technology to support 4-H volunteer engagement. Throughout the year, 1,087 participants engaged with Apple curriculum or iPads at 43 different locations, logging 425 hours of iPad use over 192 days.

After taking part in a 4-H Clovers CODE camp, 76% of surveyed participants agreed with the statement “I am interested in exploring a STEAM career.”

In addition, participants made positive comments such as:

"I loved every day of this camp and it was so much fun! If I had to choose [my favorite part] it would be the video day only because my favorite thing to do is make movies, but what was taught was very informational and the teachers made it so much fun!"

Exploring the Great Lakes and Great Outdoors

The Great Lakes state is home to a great number of diverse habitats and wildlife. This wide range of natural resources has resulted in a diverse range of careers needed to support, preserve and enhance these natural elements and protect them for future generations.

To inspire youth to explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers in fisheries, wildlife and conservation, MSU Extension created the 4-H Wild Spartans program in 2020. Held virtually, the program hosts a monthly education session where a different expert shares their research and field work, as well as the education and career path they followed. Each session also includes a live question and answer session, where youth are encouraged to ask questions.

The series has gone beyond Michigan state lines, delivering a high-quality program to a larger audience than what would have been reached before the pandemic. In 2022, the Wild Spartans series participants reached:

• 209 families in total
• 63 families new to 4-H
• 11 different states

Experts showcased in the series were outside the 4-H program, with 80% of them new to working with 4-H members. Seventy-five percent of the natural resource professionals were also from backgrounds that are underrepresented in STEM fields, helping to showcase anyone can be a scientist, no matter their background.

Throughout the series, youth were actively engaged, providing 350 unique questions, positive responses and comments. After being surveyed, 100% of attendees who responded to the poll said they learned something new during the presentation and/or were inspired to learn more about the topic they attended.