Patricia Monterrosa, Michigan State University Extension, and Rachel Ochylski, Michigan State University Extension –
Helping young people in Ingham County become Beyond Ready with 4-H.
Michigan 4-H is a fun, educational youth program offered through Michigan State University Extension that helps young people explore their interests while building skills, confidence and connections. Through hands-on learning and group activities, youth have opportunities to make new friends and engage with others their age in a supportive and welcoming environment. These programs help youth grow into confident, capable individuals prepared to thrive in a complex and changing world. 4-H is open to all youth ages 5–19 from rural, suburban and urban communities.
MSU Extension delivers these programs in counties across the state. In the Lansing region, one such county program is Ingham County 4-H. A unique strength of Ingham County 4-H is its blend of traditional and urban programming. Traditional 4-H clubs meet year-round, giving youth the chance to dive deeper into project areas, develop leadership skills, and build lasting relationships. Complementing this, urban programming offers short-term, interest-based clubs that provide flexible and accessible ways for youth to explore new topics. One such important topic is technology. As Michigan 4-H seeks to prepare youth for the future, these urban programs provide youth with opportunities to explore, understand and apply the technology around them, helping to build the skills youth need to actively participate in an increasingly digital world.
In the Lansing region, MSU Extension and Ingham County 4-H are collaborating with the Lansing Regional SmartZone and Lansing Economic Area Partnership to expand access to meaningful technology experiences for young people. This work is further supported by strong local partnerships with organizations such as the Lansing School District, East Lansing Public Schools and the East Lansing Public Library, which help bring these programs to life by connecting youth to hands-on learning opportunities in spaces they know and trust.
One example of this work is the East Lansing High School Code Coaches program. Members of the high school’s coding club developed and delivered lessons that introduced elementary students to coding and robotics. The high school students coordinated with schools, planned classroom visits, and led hands-on learning activities at Stepping Stones Elementary, Donnley Elementary, Red Cedar Elementary, Glencairn Elementary and Marble Elementary.
This model creates a meaningful mentorship cycle, helping elementary students explore technology in an engaging way while providing teen leaders with opportunities to strengthen communication, leadership, public speaking and teaching skills. Programs like Code Coaches demonstrate how technology education can build both technical knowledge and essential life skills such as communication, cooperation and problem solving.
Collaborations such as these integrate creativity, critical thinking and hands-on learning for youth of all ages. These experiences illustrate how MSU Extension continues to strengthen its commitment to expanding educational opportunities for youth, connecting students with technology, mentors and learning experiences that help them imagine and build their future. Look for Part 2 in this series to learn more Ingham County program highlights and partnership stories.
For more information about the Apple Community Education Initiative Youth Coding Academy for the Lansing Regional SmartZone program, contact Paty Monterrosa, December Day and/or Rachel Ochylski, Ingham County urban 4-H program coordinator.
MSU Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development help to prepare young people for successful futures. As a result of career exploration and workforce preparation activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to make important decisions about their professional future and are Beyond Ready to contribute to the workforce.
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).
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Published on March 30, 2020
Published on March 30, 2020
Published on March 30, 2020
Published on August 1, 2024
Published on August 1, 2024
Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
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