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School Programs

College & Career Readiness

We Connect

Help young people build skills to participate in global society and thrive in culturally diverse settings. Youth learn to communicate effectively in an intercultural context and challenge their assumptions.
Target grades 6-9 | Suggested minimum duration: 4 sessions/hours

Welcome to the real world

WTTRW is designed as a series of learning activities that culminate in a simulation experience in which youth choose a post-graduation path and make a series of related “real world” decisions.
Target grades 6- 12 | Suggested minimum duration: customizable

Ready4work

Ready 4 Work is a workforce readiness program that teaches life skills necessary to increase the number of qualified applicants for the workforce in the United States. This curriculum will focus on how youth can build their resumes and cover letters, dressing for success, interviewing skills, career planning, social media etiquette, time management and more.
Target grades 7-12 | Suggested minimum duration: 6 -8 sessions of 10 or more youth

Health & Wellness

Health Rocks

Health Rocks! focuses on life skills and decision-making development to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and e-cigarette/vaping use. The interactive lessons and the power of youth/adult partnerships help instill in participants the confidence and communication skills necessary to develop internal strength to resist risky behaviors. Additionally, lessons are included to equip youth with healthy ways to manage stress and maintain overall physical and mental health. Target grades 3-10 | Suggested minimum duration: 10 hours (can be done in 4 hours)

Illinois Food Challenge

Learn food safety, food preparation, nutrition, and kitchen safety. Then participate in a culminating team food challenge event where youth plan, prepare, and present a dish. Target grades 8-12 | Suggested minimum duration: 6 hours

Your Thoughts Matter

Understand what mental health means and its impact on those around us. Learn about different mental health disorders and identify strategies for self-help and helping others. Target grades 8-12 | Suggested minimum duration: 6 sessions/hours

Your Feelings Matter

Feelings can be confusing! Your Feelings Matter allows youth to explore what emotions are, how to express them, and how to react to them in a positive way. Target grades 3-6 | Suggested minimum duration: 7 sessions/hours

Mindful Me

Mindful Me introduces younger youth to basic concepts of mindfulness practices. The lessons include ten experiential learning activities and can be delivered utilizing trained teen teachers, 4-H staff, or volunteers. Target grades K-2 | Suggested minimum duration: 6 sessions

STEM

Tech Fest

A program day that is designed to give the kids 6 different hands on STEM lessons. The workshops that will be offered are specific to robotics, engineering, and technology. Target grade 5th or 6th | 9am to 2:30pm day session

Rain to Drain

A hands-on storm water education. This experiment style series of activities leads youth to better understand the movement of storm water in natural and developed communities. It's also a great introduction to green infrastructure and stormwater best management practices. Target grade 4th or 5th | 1 session

Embryology & Incubation

Through teacher training that builds educator capacity, groups of youth then learn about the incubation and embryology process as they hatch fertilized eggs over 21 days. Target grades K-8 | Suggested minimum duration: 1 incubation/hatch cycle

Junior Solar Sprint Cars

Competitive program where students create solar-powered vehicles. The objective is to create the fastest, most interesting, or best crafted vehicle. Skills in STEM are fostered when designing and constructing the vehicles, as well as principles of alternative fuels, engineering design, and aerodynamics. Target grades 5th -8th | Suggested minimum duration: 2 hours

Others

4-H Sanitation

Our educator is certified to train youth to get their food managers or food handlers licensing. 4-H is piloting this program this year as it aligns with our workforce readiness initiative. Target grade High School | This training takes 8 hours to go through material and take the exam.

Real Colors

This is a dynamic workshop experience using personality type test. The intuitive tool that identifies four personality types common to all people- Gold, Green, Blue, and Orange. The goal is to provide participants with the skills to:
• Understand human behavior
• Uncover motivators specific to each temperament
• Improve communication with others
Target grades High School | This training takes 2 hours

Art Lit TO GO

This program integrates literacy and visual arts through a series of book-based, hands-on learning experiences. Youth participants will read engaging literature and complete art activities designed to reinforce key concepts from each text. Program outcomes include increased understanding of foundational art principles, improved creative problem-solving abilities, enhanced literacy skills, effective collaboration and communication, and the application of artistic and literacy knowledge in real-world contexts. Target grades K-3 | Suggested minimum duration: 6 sessions

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