From Entrepreneurship to Digital Videos: 4-H Exploration Days Offers Unique Learning Experiences
6/26/08
Contact: Michelle Lavra
517-432-1555, ext. 156
EAST LANSING -- Nearly 2,600 individuals from 80 Michigan counties attended the largest precollege program offered through Michigan State University (MSU) last week. MSU Extension 4-H Exploration Days took place on the MSU campus June 18-20 and offered more than 200 interactive learning sessions for participating youth.
A variety of hands-on workshops in subjects from rocket science, fashion and crafts to the performing arts, cooking and environmental studies gave youth the opportunity to explore their interests and future career options.
Anne Scott, from Lansing, was a first-time volunteer who taught the youth farm stand session, one of three new entrepreneurship workshops offered this year as part of the 4-H Business and Entrepreneurship Expo. Not having any previous 4-H experience, Scott was amazed by the wide range of activities and opportunities 4-H has to offer.
“I always thought 4-H was only about farming and livestock, but there’s so much more to it,” she said. “Volunteering for 4-H has definitely been a learning experience for me.”
The entrepreneurship sessions taught kids how to produce and sell their own products through a series of group and hands-on activities. Seventeen-year-old Jozette Disbrow, from Owosso, said she attended the youth farm stand session because she is interested in developing her own business someday.
“The 4-H entrepreneurship sessions really taught me a lot about finances and keeping track of costs and profits,” Disbrow said.
The kids sold their products during lunch each day at the 4-H Marketplace, another new idea this year. The experience allowed them to make a profit while learning how to track costs, fill out invoices, use their marketing skills and practice selling their products to others. After paying back their material costs, the kids were allowed to keep whatever profit they earned.
Returning for her 13th year of volunteering, Cathy Felix, from Smiths Creek, taught a session on making crafts for and from your garden. Felix said she enjoys teaching the kids skills they can take back to their 4-H clubs and share with others.
“Not only do I get self-satisfaction from volunteering, I love seeing the growth that takes place at Exploration Days as the kids get older,” she said.
Seventeen-year-old Cote Hall, from Midland, has attended Exploration Days for the past three years and has taken the session on making digital videos for the Web each year.
“I’ve taken this session a couple times over the years and I’ve always enjoyed it,” he said. “I learn something new every time.”
Recent MSU graduate Sarah Jones volunteered to teach a singing and songwriting session for the first time. As a graduate with a degree in music education, Jones wanted to create a fun way to teach kids proper vocal techniques and songwriting skills without forcing classical choral music on them.
“The kids come willing and ready to learn,” she said. “They all already love to sing, and I try to enhance that by teaching them vocal techniques such as breath support, open mouth and good vowels that they can take home and use every day.”
It was the first year at Exploration Days for 16-year-old Austin Garrett, from Saginaw, who has participated in 4-H for the past four years. Garrett said he plans to come again as long as he can and that he enjoyed every minute of Exploration Days.
“This has been an amazing experience,” he said. “I would recommend coming to Exploration Days to anyone -- it’s so worth it!”
To learn more about 4-H Exploration Days, go to http://web1.msue.msu.edu/cyf/youth/expodays.html.
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