Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has hundreds of programs available to Iowans. Use this resource to find programs you are interested in. Most programs include a link to detailed information about that program.
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about agriculture and the impact it has on everyday life.
Intended Audiences:
Early Elementary Youth, Upper Elementary Youth, Middle School Youth, High School Youth
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about safety in rural and agricultural settings.
Intended Audiences:
Early Elementary Youth, Upper Elementary Youth, Middle School Youth, High School Youth
Iowa 4-H offers workshops, events, and other educational activities for young people to learn about babysitting.
The 4-H Connect program is a three-day retreat that allows untapped and underserved youth participants to explore experiential learning opportunities in the 4-H four program priority areas of civic engagement and leadership, healthy living, communication and the arts, STEM, as well as future educ
Youth use their aquired skills in the dairy project area to judge classes of dairy cows and heifers at the Iowa State Fair.
Intended Audiences:
Upper Elementary Youth, Middle School Youth, High School Youth
Intended Audiences:
Middle School Youth, High School Youth
Livestock skillathon is a team event where participants solve problems and identify breeds, meats, equipment and feeds related to beef, sheep, swine, and goat production.
STEM festivals inspire and engage youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities and to introduce children and parents to STEM careers in their local communities.
Intended Audiences:
Upper Elementary Youth
The AWIM program provides age-appropriate multidisciplinary hands-on experiences for students. Each AWIM activity is bench marked to national standards, and combines a comprehensive curriculum built around the AWIM Engineering Design Experience.
Intended Audiences:
Middle School Youth, High School Youth
4-H members in grades 9-12 interested in showcasing apparel design and production knowledge share their understanding and use of design elements and principles within one of three classes. The member selects one of four categories in their chosen class.
Books for Cooks is an innovative Iowa 4-H program that supports the development of culinary and literacy skills for K-3 children.
From exploring potential jobs to starting their own business, the “Build Your Future” curriculum helps teens in grades 9-12 develop skills and knowledge in career exploration.
The 4-H Career Pathways Academy is a 12-month immersive program for all Iowa youth in grades 8-11 that provides pathways to college and career preparedness. The program will:
Classroom Hatching is an egg incubation program for youth in Kindergarten through third grade. This program aims to explore the life cycle of poultry and learn about the needs of living things by incubating and hatching chicken eggs.
Engineering Everywhere (EE) is a rigorously researched, youth-tested curriculum that integrates engineering and technology concepts and skills with science topics.
EiE®, the award-winning curricula division of the Museum of Science, Boston, develops research-based, classroom-tested programs that empower children to become lifelong STEM learners and passionate problem solvers.
Youth in
grades 4-12 demonstrate knowledge of the equine industry. Competiti
FLEx is a mobile learning program for advanced design technology benefiting 3rd through 12th students and beyond in a 21st-century paradigm. Growing in the Garden: Local Foods and Healthy Living is designed for youth gardening programs, community neighborhood gardens, farm to school programs, Ag in the Classroom and Master Gardening projects for grades 4-12. 4-H Healthy Living Ambassadors work as a team, bringing wellness initiatives to communities across Iowa. Clubs take part in the challenge by introducing a variety of healthy living practices during club meetings each month. Completing the challenges earns the clubs "miles" as they race across Iowa throughout all 20 regions of the state. This event is for youth in grades 8-12 to learn more about the areas of wellness and wellbeing. Intended Audiences: Students engage with living organisms for agricultural and scientific purposes, independent of an outdoor environment. Renewable energy is not only a relevant topic in today’s world, but can also serve as a real-world gateway to foundational topics in science, mathematics, engineering and technology (STEM) education. Youth will learn the importance of healthy eating and physical activity while making and eating healthy, child-friendly recipes. Making STEM Connections directs students to use their hands in conjunction with their minds to produce meaningful learning outcomes. Mindful Teen: From Surviving to THRIVING! is a six-lesson workshop series for youth in grades 7-12 based on the book, The Mindful Teen: Powerful Skills to Help You Handle Stress One Moment at a Time by Dr. Dzung Vo. This day camp is a great way to launch your STEM learning. Join us to learn about Mars, NASA, and STEM concepts by training like an astronaut and going on a mission to Mars! The Monarchs on the Move Challenge is a part of the 4-H Ag Innovators Experience (4-H AIE), an annual program that challenges young people to apply critical thinking and STEM skills to a real-world agriculture challenge. NASA Astro Camp® is an opportunity for youth to get involved in and experience Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) -- and to learn more about space with NASA unique activities. National 4-H Conference is the pinnacle experience in 4-H Civic Engagement, providing the opportunity for youth people to connect, learn, engage, lead and impact their communities, their nation, and their world. National 4-H Congress is a five-day event that engages high school 4-H members in leadership, civic engagement, global awareness, and inclusion. Delegates are selected through State 4-H Recognition Day. Ignite by 4-H is a teen event held in Washington, D.C. for four days of inspiring and engaging panels, respected speakers, workshop sessions, entertainment and creating amazing connections. Formerly known as National Youth Science Day, the 4 H STEM Challenge is an annual initiative to inspire youth in grades 4-12 to take an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on learning. The Native Bee Challenge is a part of the 4-H Ag Innovators Experience, an annual program that challenges young people to apply critical thinking and STEM skills to a real-world agriculture challenge. Developed by National 4-H Council and Bayer. This 4-H youth development guide is designed to strengthen skills in youth who may care for themselves and/or siblings during the afterschool hours. This publication is focused on youth who are home alone for limited time. Pick a Better Snack aims to help children eat more fruits and vegetables. Nutrition educators teach 30-minute interactive lessons once a month in kindergarten through 3rd grade classrooms. Students learn why fruits and vegetables are so good for their bodies, where and how fruits and v Pint Size Science introduces children to STEM topics through discovery learning. What would you need in order to grow crops on the moon? Participants from around the world are helping NASA scientists answer this question and you can be a part of the science project. Read Across Iowa is a special event celebrated throughout the month of March to help motivate children to read. The month-long celebrations bring the joys of reading to youth of all ages and make all youth feel valued and welcomed. Real Money. Real World. Is an interactive, hands-on experience providing young people the opportunity to make simulated lifestyle and budget choices similar to those adults face on a daily basis. A middle school leadership initiative created and sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Iowa 4-H. 4-H Safety and Education in Shooting Sports (SESS) uses skills and disciplines of shooting to assist young people and their leaders in obtaining knowledge and developing life skills. Iowa 4-H partners with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, who has a national model for sports-based youth development. Soccer for Success helps youth embrace an active and healthy lifestyle while nurturing their personal growth through trained coach-mentors. An event held each year in the Spring, Iowa 4-H Youth Development’s State Science + Technology Fair of Iowa (SSTFI) serves as a platform for student researchers (grades 6 – 12) to meet with professional researchers and communicate their findings. State 4-H Recognition is the process in which senior 4-H members in grades 9-12 can apply to be selected for special statewide opportunities such as awards and trips. Youth who have completed 8th grade and up can participate in a 3-day conference at Iowa State University. Youth will experience campus life and meet new people from around the state! Activities include networking and service learning. This informal education program is designed to teach children fundamental STEM and art concepts through integrated STEAM-literacy activities that focus on a seasonal topic. STEM in Action® modules follows the Engineering Design Process of defining the problem, planning solutions, making a prototype, testing the prototype, reflecting, communicating results, and redesigning. STEM-Lit to Go! is a new and innovative Iowa 4-H Clover Kids curriculum that supports the development of STEM and literacy skills for children in kindergarten through third grade. Storytime STEM-packs use a storybook as context to present children with a phenomenon or problem. Through engagement in the practice standards for science, engineering or mathematics, and the use of a crosscutting concept, youth collaboratively explain the SWITCH ("School Wellness Integration Targeting Child Health") is an innovative school wellness initiative designed to support and enhance school wellness programming. School Cooking School - Virtual Cooking Classes focus on engaging students and their family members in the Chew component of SWITCH. The Water Connects US All Challenge is a part of the 4-H Ag Innovators Experience, an annual program that challenges young people to apply critical thinking and STEM skills to a real-world agriculture challenge. Today’s students are our future land stewards. Students in WHEP have a greater understanding of the value of land and how it can be managed to benefit many wildlife and fish species. With over 15,000 Iowa 4-H'ers enrolled in livestock projects, about 17 million pounds of meat is produced each year.
The goal of this program is to help youth and their parents better understand what they can do to produce the safest food possible. |