Michigan 4-H Military Family Programs

Registration closes tomorrow! We still have a few free STEM kits available to the first 50 registrants!

ATTEN-TION! The Michigan 4-H Month of the Military Child Virtual Challenge returns April 7-20, 2024! Youth ages 5-19 complete life skills missions to learn more about military life, celebrate military children, and earn points for prizes using the GooseChase app. Participants do not need to be in 4-H or have any previous military knowledge or connection to play. The first 50 registrants will receive a free 4-H Build-a-Boat Activity Kit to use in the challenge. To learn more and register, visit https://events.anr.msu.edu/4HMOMC2024/ or contact Kate King [email protected]

Games are an all-inclusive way for youth to learn STEAM, and create family connections and peer networks. Clover Gaming Connection delivers 12-plus hours of content encouraging innovation and imagination and cultivating creativity in board game design. Gaming and game design are ways to develop programming that excites youth and allows participants to see possibilities for their future. This session will review the curriculum and many implementation options to fit the youth programming needs. Participants will be given access to all grab-and-go lessons developed by the Clover Gaming team to be used at youth meetings for a sampling of interest.
Register to learn more during our Third Thursday Together, Thursday, March 21, at 2 p.m.
Registration is required. Sign up at www.4-Hmilitarypartnership.com

Only 2 more weeks left to register for the MOMC Virtual Challenge!

ATTEN-TION! The Michigan 4-H Month of the Military Child Virtual Challenge returns April 7-20, 2024! Youth ages 5-19 complete life skills missions to learn more about military life, celebrate military children, and earn points for prizes using the GooseChase app. Participants do not need to be in 4-H or have any previous military knowledge or connection to play. The first 50 registrants will receive a free 4-H Build-a-Boat Activity Kit to use in the challenge. To learn more and register, visit https://events.anr.msu.edu/4HMOMC2024/ or contact Kate King [email protected]

ATTEN-TION! The Michigan 4-H Month of the Military Child Virtual Challenge returns April 7-20, 2024! Youth ages 5-19 complete life skills missions to learn more about military life, celebrate military children, and earn points for prizes using the GooseChase app. Participants do not need to be in 4-H or have any previous military knowledge or connection to play. The first 50 registrants will receive a free 4-H Build-a-Boat Activity Kit to use in the challenge. To learn more and register, visit https://events.anr.msu.edu/4HMOMC2024/ or contact Kate King [email protected]

Join 4-H staff as we take a look into life working with fisheries and wildlife! This month’s 4-H Wild Spartans Series will wade with waterfowl and explore our forests. Join us on Tuesday, February 13th, 2024 at 6:30pm EST for “Seeing the Forest for the Wildlife.” You will meet Jeremiah Heise, Ecosystem Program Manager with the U.S. Forest Service, learn about his field work, and the education and career path he followed to get there. Youth will be encouraged to ask questions to learn more through a live Q&A. This free series is open to 4-H and non-4-H youth ages 12-19 years. Monthly sessions will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm EST. Pre-registration is required: https://events.anr.msu.edu/wildspartans20232024/

Save the Date for Exploration Days, June 19-21, 2024.
Military-connected 4-H families may qualify for scholarships to attend Exploration Days. If interested, please email Kate King at [email protected]

This MSU precollege program welcomes youth ages 12-19 to explore their future, try new things, and experience college life! During this three-day event, youth will gain confidence and independence through hands-on learning and make friends for a lifetime. Attendees can also qualify for a scholarship to attend MSU by attending this event. https://www.canr.msu.edu/4_h_exploration_days/

Attention 4-H Volunteers - Join Michigan 4-H on January 23rd at Noon or 7pn for a free webinar on Teaching Science When You Don’t Know Diddley-Squat. 4-H volunteers will learn about a series of science lessons that can be taught with no science background and materials you probably already have at home, or with a quick shopping trip. If you have a club meeting coming up tonight, and don’t have much time to prepare – these lessons are for you. For more information and registration visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/volunteering/mi-4-h-volunteer-webinar-series

Attention Sports Fans - Two opportunities to show up for 4-H!
February 24 - Michigan 4-H Day at the Breslin Center. Join us for the eighteenth annual celebration of MSU Extension 4-H Youth Development at the MSU Women’s Basketball game. The Spartans will host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at the Breslin Center on MSU's campus. Tip-off is 2 p.m. with gates opening to the public at 12:30 p.m.; come early to enjoy all the fun activities going on around the concourse. Ticket Price: FREE for the Michigan 4-H community including MSU Extension and 4-H youth, volunteers, partners, stakeholders, staff, alumni and their families! Tickets: https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/4-h-day-at-the-breslin

April 28 - Michigan 4-H Day with the Detroit Tigers is back! Join Michigan 4-H and MSU Extension for a fun day at Comerica Park as the Tigers take on the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, April 28! Michigan 4-H youth, volunteers, staff and their families will enjoy exclusive gameday opportunities and a portion of every ticket sold in the 4-H block will be donated back to Michigan 4-H. To order your tickets, visit https://fevo-enterprise.com/Michigan4h24.

2024 Inbound Host Family Applications have opened! Michigan 4-H will be having 14 Japanese youth and one Chaperone available in 2024 for interested families opening their home and hearts by hosting! Currently they are scheduled to arrive in Grand Rapids, MI July 21st and depart August 16th (this may change by just a few days later arrival and departure) to meet host families. A host family needs to complete the States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs online application, have a youth to match as a host brother/sister (be within 3 years of age), be Michigan 4-H adult Gold Volunteers, participate in an interview and home visit process. Applications to host can be found at www.states4hexchange.org

❗💲 Cash Alert 💲❗
Money, money, money! The 2024 4-H Cash Composition Contest is now open! Youth residing in Michigan, ages 9-19 (as of Jan 1, 2024), have a chance to win a $100 gift card thanks to the generous sponsorship by Extra Credit Union. To enter, write a 300 word (or less) essay on budgeting and submit your essay by February 29, 2024. Three youth from each age bracket will win! Full contest details and registration link can be found at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/4-h.../money-smart-kids-contest

Attention 4-H Members! Michigan 4-H is offering a video contest to encourage youth to join 4-H. 4-H members can be our best advertisers by helping spread the word in a short video highlighting “Why You Should Join 4-H!” Be a 4-H changemaker by using your voice and sharing your story of 4-H. Chance to win prizes for 4-H youth 9-19 as they explore video creation and editing. Learn more about this opportunity here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/4-h-clovers-code/contest/
Deadline to register and submit videos is January 31, 2024. The 4-H Creative Campaign Contest is sponsored with a grant from the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

National 4-H Conference is the pinnacle experience in 4-H Civic Engagement, providing the opportunity for young people to connect, learn, engage, lead, and impact their communities, nation, and world. At the conference, delegates (ages 15-19) will have the opportunity to participate in round table discussions, present to federal partner agencies, and engage with their U.S. Senators and Representatives. To sign up, contact your county MSU Extension 4-H Program Coordinator (http://msue.anr.msu.edu/county) or Liana Pepin at [email protected]. Scholarships are available from NIFA and applications are due to Liana by January 19th: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/national-4-h-conference

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend – youth, parents, community and statewide partners, all MSU Extension-affiliated faculty and staff, and curious community members. Whether you’ve used MSU Extension services for years or not at all, you can play a part in helping shape the services and offerings in your community in the future. The outcome of this work will be a co-developed vision to guide MSU Extension’s work in the future.
Please consider sharing your perspectives on the future of MSU Extension. Register for a Zoom meeting or share your feedback through an online survey - https://extension.msu.edu/listenvirtual2023

We are excited to announce Michigan 4-H's new 4-H Military Partnership Liaison is Kate King! Kate is based in Cadillac (Wexford County) and has been an active member of the Month of the Military Child programming team since 2022. Thank you Katelyn Golembiewski for serving as our liaison for the last few years! We wish you and your family the best.

Join 4-H staff as we take a look into life working with fisheries and wildlife! This month’s 4-H Wild Spartans Series will delve into how tribes use traditional knowledge and values (giikendaasowin) in natural resources management. Join us on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at 6:30pm EST for “Anishinaabe Perspectives in Natural Resources Management: Anishinaabe giikendaasowin and Western Science.” You will meet Brad Silet, biologist with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, learn about his field work, and the education and career path he followed to get there. Youth will be encouraged to ask questions to learn more through a live Q&A. This free series is open to 4-H and non-4-H youth ages 12-19 years. Monthly sessions will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm EST. Pre-registration is required:
https://events.anr.msu.edu/wildspartans20232024/

National 4 H Conference is the pinnacle experience in 4 H Civic Engagement, providing the opportunity for young people to connect, learn, engage, lead, and impact their communities, nation, and world. At the conference, delegates (ages 15-19) will have the opportunity to participate in round table discussions, present to federal partner agencies, and engage with their U.S. Senators and Representatives. To sign up, contact your county MSU Extension 4-H Program Coordinator (http://msue.anr.msu.edu/county) or Liana Pepin at [email protected].

Join us for the State 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Expo and Show! Youth may choose to exhibit their rabbit and/or cavy as well as compete in other contests such as breed identification, photography, and educational display. Here by popular demand, Rabbit and Cavy Showmanship! Showmanship exhibitors are required to pre-register by January 19, 2024 at https://events.anr.msu.edu/showmanship_state_rabbit_and_cavy/.

Join us tomorrow evening for Extension Extra Parenting Hour. Parenting workshops will provide guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, concerns, and joys of parenting. This session focuses on mindfulness for children. To register for this session visit

https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_APsEiTFUTfOSwoRU7aQ17g

Join us on Tuesday, December 19th from 8:00pm to 9:30pm for Extension Extra Parenting Hour. Parenting workshops will provide guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, concerns, and joys of parenting. This session focuses on mindfulness for children. To register for this session visit

https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_APsEiTFUTfOSwoRU7aQ17g

Do you care for another relative's children? Join us for our kinship caregiver class tomorrow evening from 7:00-8:30pm. We will be discussing essential skills for learning and life. Register at https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_msxyZuH0QeS9MsKaD_y7Tg

Join us tomorrow evening for Extension Extra Parenting Hour. Parenting workshops will provide guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, concerns, and joys of parenting. This session focuses on talking with kids about race. To register for this session and other December sessions visit

https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_APsEiTFUTfOSwoRU7aQ17g

Join 4-H staff tomorrow evening as we take a look into life working with fisheries and wildlife!

This month’s 4-H Wild Spartans Series will take a dive into the Great Lakes and rivers to explore their coldwater residents. Join us on Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 at 6:30pm EST for “Casting for a Career in Coldwater Conservation.” You will meet the Great Lakes Engagement Coordinator for Trout Unlimited, Jamie Vaughan, learn about her field work, and the education and career path she followed to get there. Youth will be encouraged to ask questions to learn more through a live Q&A. This free series is open to 4-H and non-4-H youth ages 12-19 years. Monthly sessions will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm EST.

Pre-registration is required: https://events.anr.msu.edu/wildspartans20232024/

Looking for a 4-H gift this holiday season? Check out the Michigan 4-H pop-up shop filled with 4-H items perfect for a Michigan 4-H member, volunteer or staff!

https://shop4-h.org/collections/msu-extension-collection

SAVE THE DATE! You’re ALL invited to attend the eighteenth annual celebration of MSU Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development at the Spartan Women’s basketball game, Saturday, February 24, 2024.

Tickets are FREE for the Michigan 4-H community including MSU Extension and 4-H youth, volunteers, partners, stakeholders, staff, alumni and their families!

Join us on Tuesday, December 12th from 8:00pm to 9:30pm for Extension Extra Parenting Hour. Parenting workshops will provide guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, concerns, and joys of parenting. This session focuses on talking with kids about race. To register for this session and other December sessions visit

https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_APsEiTFUTfOSwoRU7aQ17g

Do you care for another relative's children? Join us for our kinship caregiver class next Tuesday from 7:00-8:30pm. We will be discussing essential skills for learning and life. Register at https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_msxyZuH0QeS9MsKaD_y7Tg

Join us tomorrow evening for Extension Extras Parenting Hour. Parenting workshops will provide guidance for parents of young children as they navigate the challenges, concerns, and joys of parenting. This session focuses on essential skills for learning and life. To register for this session and other December sessions visit

https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_APsEiTFUTfOSwoRU7aQ17g