Exploration Days 2011

Registration Books and forms are now available at your County MSU Extension office or may be downloaded here:  

4-H Exploration Days Registration Book (includes forms)

Registration Forms (only)

Registration opens March 22. Get your forms in early for a better chance to get your first choice of classes.

About 4-H Exploration Days

More than 2,500 students and adult chaperones will be on the Michigan State University campus June 22-24 for the 42^nd annual 4-H Exploration Days.  Participants stay in residence halls and attend sessions in their areas of interest ranging from veterinary medicine to Web design, performing arts, how to start their own business, organic farming and many more. Nearly 200 hands-on classroom and field trip sessions are offered.   Participants from Marquette County must have turned 12 years old before January 1, 2011 in order to participate in the event.

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, independence and teamwork skills. They also meet and interact with people from different backgrounds and areas throughout Michigan. 4-H volunteers and staff are on hand to offer oversight and guidance.

“Exploration Days gives 4-H youth an authentic collegiate experience,” says Judy Ratkos, MSU Extension 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.”

When not in sessions, students will have a plethora of recreation and learning choices. This year’s Exploration Days features tours of the MSU Skandalaris Football Center, Breslin Student Events Center, the MSU Dairy Store, the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, the 4-H Children’s Gardens and a planetarium show. The opening night entertainment on June 22 features “4-H’s Got Talent!” with performances by a variety of talented groups and individual 4-H’ers and alumni at the Wharton Center Great Hall. The annual State 4-H Awards Celebration, a formal event celebrating the accomplishments of more than 160 Michigan 4-H members, takes place June 23.

For more information about 4-H Exploration Days, visit http://web1.msue.msu.edu/4h/expodays.html.