Statewide Events & Programs
Statewide Events Calendar
2023 MSU 4-H Exploration Days will be held from June 21-23, 2023!!
Please review the 4-H Exploration Days Handbook for event rules, policies and procedures that all youth and adults must acknowledge and abide by.
2023 Session Booklet 2023 Session Planning Sheet Registration Instructions
Fees
- $220 Youth Participant Fee – The fee for youth to participate in 4-H Exploration Days covers meals from Wednesday lunch to Friday lunch, two nights of lodging, all event activities and a T-shirt.
- $120 Adult Participant Fee- Adult Participant $120 Adult Participant Fee- Adults attend as support for this event as instructors and chaperones and will be assigned a variety of volunteer tasks to support the event. The fee for adults participating in 4-H Exploration Days covers meals, from Wednesday lunch to Friday lunch, two nights of lodging, all event activities and a T-shirt.
- $45 Tuesday Early Arrival Fee – This additional fee covers Tuesday lodging and Wednesday breakfast for long distance participants (primarily from Upper Peninsula).
If unable to pay the $50 pre-payment by credit card within the registration system, please reach out to 4h.expodays@msu.edu to make arrangements prior to registering.
What’s It All About?
This year over 1,000 youth (ages 12-19) and chaperones from across Michigan are invited to attend this event this year! This fun MSU pre-college program could be the highlight of your summer - it could even change your life! 4-H Exploration Days opens at 7pm on March 21, 2023. Sessions have limited spaces, so be sure to register as soon as possible when it opens! Session assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis. As you select your session choices, be sure to watch for age restrictions! Age requirements for sessions are based on your age as of January 1.
Eligibility Requirements: 4-H Explorations Days is open to all youth between the ages of 12-19 as of January 1st of the current program year. All participants must be enrolled in 4-H Online. Any youth aged 18, 19 or 20 at the time of the event must complete a background check, which includes a reference check and a criminal history check. Local MSU Extension staff are responsible for ensuring that this background check is completed before the event.
This MSU pre-college program is designed to:
- Increase responsibility, confidence, independence, accountability, problem-solving, decision-making and time management skills.
- Increase communication, team work, citizenship, and leadership skills.
- Foster ability to meet new people and make new friends from different places and backgrounds.
- Develop and expand career and personal interests.
- Increase college exploration and access to the Michigan State University campus and its resources.
- Develop social and academic skills needed for a successful transition to college and life as an adult.
- Give youth opportunities to try things that aren’t available in their county.
What’s it like?
- There’ll be more than 100 session choices held on and off campus. You’ll choose two or three for your three-day stay.
- You’ll live in a Michigan State University dorm and eat in the cafeteria—just like MSU students do.
- Sessions are taught by people who know their stuff, including MSU faculty members, 4-H volunteers and staff members and other experts.
- It’s not all sessions! There’s plenty of time for fun, including skating, souvenir shopping, exploring, bowling, basketball—even a great dance Thursday night.
- The 2023 cost is $220. For more information please see the Registration Information page.
- The fee includes meals, a shared room in a dorm, sessions and a t-shirt. The 4-H Council will be offering partial scholarships to all youth attending this program. The 2023 combined scholarship amount from the 4-H Council and the 4-H county program is $100 per youth.
Save-the-Dates!
Click the links below for more information on upcoming events & programs from Michigan 4-H!
Michigan 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Show: Jan 28
Horse Judging Workshop and Mini Contest - Feb 3-4
Michigan 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Training - Paw Paw: Feb 11
Michigan 4-H Day at the Breslin (FREE Spartans Women's Basketball vs Penn State): Feb 12
Animal Science Career Quest: Feb 18-19
Michigan 4-H Dairy Conference: March 3-5
Michigan 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Training - Roscommon: March 4
2023 4-H Skillathon - March 4th & 11th (Qualifiers) and March 18th (State Championship)
Michigan Youth Livestock Conference - March 11th
4-H Capitol Experience - March 12-14
Michigan 4-H Hippology Contest: March 18
Michigan 4-H / FFA Horse Judging Contest: April 16
SW Michigan 4-H Regional Shooting Sports Tournament: June 11
Michigan 4-H State Goat Show: June 17
Michigan 4-H Exploration Days: June 21-23
Great Lakes Natural Resources Camp: July 23-29
2023 Michigan 4-H State Dog Show – August 12
Michigan 4-H Horse Show: August 18-20
August 19 – Michigan 4-H Shooting Sports Tournament (aka State Shoot)
Michigan 4-H Animal and Veterinary Science Camp
Michigan 4-H Animal and Veterinary Science Camp is for youth who are interested in exploring animal and veterinary science related projects and activities. Participants must be ages 13 to 17 as of January 1 of the current programming year.
This five-day pre-college program held at Michigan State University is a partnership with the Michigan 4-H Youth Development, MSU Department of Animal Science, and MSU College of Veterinary Medicine. Youth will explore fields relating to animal and veterinary medicine as well as participate in numerous hands-on learning activities. Participants will also gain animal handling experience while having the opportunity to visit and explore MSU farms and facilities. Throughout the week, teens will work their way through a veterinary science case study as a team and create a presentation to be critiqued by veterinarians. This is a fun and interactive camp that will allow youth to conduct activities, ask questions, and problem-solve. Additionally, this camp will help youth explore various animal-related career fields while reflecting on their experiences and community programs.
learn more!
4-H Great Lakes Natural Resources Camp
Young teens have fun and amazing outdoor hands-on learning experiences as they go charter fishing, snorkeling, sailing, hike through forests, wade through wetlands, explore dunes and more! This really fun MSU pre-college program could be the highlight of your summer - it could even change your life!
Learning sessions and recreation are designed to:
- Increase teens’ appreciation and enjoyment of the outdoors, natural resources, and science.
- Increase teens’ knowledge about the Great Lakes, natural resources ecology and management issues.
- Develop strong attitudinal attachment to Michigan’s unique natural resources and bioregional features.
- Foster scientifically rooted environmental stewardship.
- Develop and expand career and personal interests.
- Develop leadership skills and self-confidence.
- Increase social and academic skills needed for a successful transition to college and life as an adult.
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