4-H Exploration Days: Precollege Program Brings Youth to MSU Campus
5/21/08
Contact: Michelle Lavra
517-432-1555, ext. 156
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- More than 2,500 students and adult volunteers will be on the Michigan State University (MSU) campus June 18-20 for the 39th annual 4-H Exploration Days. This precollege program attracts students (ages 11 to 19) and adult volunteers from all over Michigan. Students participate in nearly 200 hands-on classroom and field trip sessions conducted throughout the MSU campus and the surrounding area. They stay in residence halls and attend sessions in their areas of interest, from veterinary medicine to Web design, dance, sign language, songwriting, organic farming and many more. New this year is the Business and Entrepreneurship Expo, which offers three sessions during Exploration Days. These give youth an opportunity to learn how to either start their own businesses or expand current ones.
Exploration Days, Michigan’s largest annual 4-H event, is designed to help students learn new ideas and techniques while exploring career options and developing decision-making and teamwork skills. They also meet and interact with people from different backgrounds and areas throughout Michigan. Although volunteers are on hand to offer oversight and guidance, students also enjoy a great deal of independence.
“Exploration Days gives 4-H youth an authentic collegiate experience,” says Judy Ratkos, MSU 4-H Youth Development program leader and coordinator of the event. “They are exposed to things they cannot get at the local level. Information learned in a session may spark their interest in a college major or career. Many are inspired to come to college at MSU because they feel confident and comfortable here.”
Ratkos points out that the event would not be possible without the volunteer support from across the state and within the campus community.
“In general, more than 21,000 volunteer hours are contributed to this event,” says Ratkos. There are 275 instructors and session helpers with expertise in more than 100 subject matter areas.
This year’s Exploration Days features tours of the Clara Bell Smith Student Athlete Academic Support Center, the Breslin Student Events Center, the MSU Dairy Store, the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, the 4-H Children’s Gardens and the School of Packaging. The opening night entertainment on June 18 features Three Men and a Tenor at the Wharton Center Great Hall. The foursome began performing years ago as student members of the MSU Men’s Glee Club. The annual state 4-H awards banquet, a formal event celebrating the accomplishments of more than 160 Michigan 4-H members, takes place June 19. In honor of the 100th birthday of 4-H in Michigan, the MSU Dairy Store has developed a special “4-H Forever” ice cream, which will be served to participants during Exploration Days.
4-H Youth Development is operated in Michigan through a partnership among county governments, Michigan State University Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information about Exploration Days, visit http://web1.msue.msu.edu/cyf/youth/expodays.html.
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