MSU Extension 4-H Exploration Days

Michigan State University Extension’s largest pre-college program, 4-H Exploration Days, has been welcoming 4-H youth to campus for more than 50 years. This signature Michigan 4-H program for youth ages 12-19 allows young people to live the life of a college student for three days; staying in the dorms, eating in the cafeteria, and even attending “classes” in MSU buildings that allow youth to explore their passions and interests. This year, MSU Extension added a new component to the event that will help youth become beyond ready for the future: Campus Career Connect tracks. 

“4-H Exploration Days has always been about helping youth find and explore their spark while also developing critical life skills like time management, responsibility and problem-solving,” said Lisa Bottomley, co-director of MSU Extension’s children and youth programs, including Michigan 4-H.  “By adding the Campus Career Connect tracks, we anticipate that youth will make deeper connections to the future world of work and see how they can prepare now to be beyond ready for those future opportunities.”

Unique from the standard sessions that have long been a part of 4-H Exploration Days, Campus Career Connect tracks were focused on careers, education and hands-on experiences related to career pathways and potential jobs. Each had a strong connection with MSU colleges, departments and facilities and were led by MSU experts who shared more about jobs in their fields, as well as the education and training needed for those jobs. In this pilot year, 4-H Exploration Days offered 19 Campus Career Connect tracks to 4-H participants.

“Our Campus Career Connect tracks encouraged youth to take an in-depth look at job and career options in a variety of fields, including animal science, forestry, language arts and public safety,” said Jodi Schulz, co-director of MSU Extension’s children and youth programs and state leader for Michigan 4-H. “Whether the track peaked someone’s interest in a future career, identified an educational pathway for a dream job, or helped a young person to see a field was not really for them at all, we’re confident these Campus Career Connect tracks have helped our 2025 4-H Exploration Days participants become ready for work in a new way.”

At the conclusion of the event, which was held June 18-20, 84% of surveyed 4-H Exploration Days attendees reported that the event helped them to learn about jobs they might want to do in the future. Careers that youth reported being most excited to learn more about included: animal care, production and management; being a vet or other animal health-related fields; and science. In addition, 55% of youth reported that they really want to or think they want to go to college at MSU one day.

“I learned about what jobs I might want to do and different opportunities I might have," said a 2025 4-H Exploration Days participant.

In total, nearly 700 youth and more than 180 adult chaperones and volunteers attended the 2025 event. Attendees represented 63 different counties and nearly 42% of participants said they had never attended 4-H Exploration Days before. The 4-H Thriving Model, the theory of change for positive youth development in 4-H, was also used to evaluate the 2025 event. Responses collected showed that 80% of surveyed youth said they felt very safe at 4-H Exploration Days, 78% said that they felt very welcome in 4-H, and 61% felt like they matter in 4-H.

" I learned the importance of making friends and connections with others," said one event attendee.

After such success in the initial year, plans are underway to continue the Campus Career Connect tracks at the 2026 4-H Exploration Days event.

“We’re so proud of the many ways that 4-H Exploration Days helps 4-H youth from across the state prepare for life and work,” continued Bottomley. “Attendees may now be ready to map out a career pathway, dig deeper into a newfound interest, or tackle new challenges. Whatever the case, they’re beyond ready to step into the future and we’re excited to be a part of that in Michigan 4-H.”

To learn more about attending 4-H Exploration Days as a youth participant or becoming a volunteer instructor or chaperone, visit the 4-H Exploration Days website.