URBANA, Ill. — For high school students, planning for the future can be both stressful and exciting. This summer Illinois high school students can experience college firsthand before they ever complete an application. The program is hosted by University of Illinois Extension and Illinois 4-H on June 21-25, 2026.
“Illini Summer Academies is a unique week-long experience that allows young people to explore potential majors and career paths while ‘living’ on campus,” said Emilia Elabed, 4-H youth development educator for Illinois Extension in Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties. “Students stay in campus housing, eat in campus dining halls, and attend immersive academies where they can get a feel for the college academic experience in a safe and supportive environment.”
Hosted annually on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, the academies offer in-depth, hands-on learning on a variety of subject areas, including agriculture, engineering, technology, health sciences, environmental sciences, and business. The program is open to teens entering 9th grade through 12th grade in the 2026-27 school year. Students do not need to be a 4-H member to attend.
Structured around the 4-H model for positive youth development, each academy is designed to give students a deeper understanding of potential career paths while helping them build confidence. Throughout the week, participants build their network as they interact directly with faculty and campus staff and collaborate with peers from across Illinois. The experience is structured to balance independence with support, allowing teens to test their readiness for college in a supervised setting.
“Teens leave the week with new knowledge and an expanded view of what potential options might be available to them for the future,” Elabed said. “For some, it confirms an interest they already had. For others, it opens doors to possibilities. Whether students ultimately choose college, trade school, or some other career path, we want them to feel ‘Beyond Ready’ and empowered to make a decision that is right for their aspirations.”
"Whether students ultimately choose college, trade school, or some other career path, we want them to feel ‘Beyond Ready’ and empowered to make a decision that is right for their aspirations.”
A limited number of fee waivers are available for current 4-H members from both the State 4-H Office and local Extension offices. In Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties, support assistance is provided thanks to the generous support of the Grundy County Clover Supporters and Illinois Extension:
“Just like our parent college, which offers free or reduced tuition for eligible students, we never want registration fees to be a barrier for students in reaching their full potential. Limited state and local fee waiver options are available for Illini Summer Academies for all participants interested in attending, and we are very grateful to those who support our programming in this way,” said Elabed.
Space in each academy is limited, and early registration is encouraged.
More information, including academy options, fees, and registration details, can be found online at go.aces.illinois.edu/IlliniSummerAcademies.
For more information on how 4-H is building a ‘Beyond Ready’ generation, visit 4h.extension.illinois.edu.
WRITER: Anthony Warmack, communications and marketing coordinator, Illinois Extension.
SOURCE: Emilia Elabed, 4-H youth development educator, Illinois Extension; Brooke Katcher, 4-H recruitment and engagement coordinator, Illinois Extension; Carissa Nelson, media communications manager, Illinois Extension
MEDIA ACCESS: Images in this release can be downloaded for media use. For press inquiries, contact Anthony Warmack, warmacka@illinois.edu, 217-244-5813. Want to keep in touch with news from Illinois Extension? Sign up for press updates.
ABOUT ILLINOIS 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.