MSU Extension 4-H Clovers CODE

In Part 1 of this Michigan State University Extension series, we introduced Ingham County 4-H and our work preparing youth for the future by connecting them to technology and programming that builds necessary skills for an increasingly digital world. Through a partnership with the Lansing Regional SmartZone and Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), MSU Extension, Apple Community Education Initiative (CEI) and Ingham County 4-H reached 566 students in just one year. Taking place through 17 different programs across more than a dozen locations, these experiences expanded technology learning opportunities for Ingham County youth.

In the first year, partnership initiatives included technology and coding programs such as Sphero Chariots Maker Monday, a hands-on workshop where students explored programming concepts using Sphero Bolt robots, as well as the Whitehills Elementary Coding Special Interest Club, where elementary students participated in coding and problem‑solving activities. Other Ingham County 4-H programs included the Code Coaches program at East Lansing High School, which focused on supporting students in developing technological skills and peer‑to‑peer leadership, and the Digital Storytelling Lab at the Southside Community Coalition, which invited youth to create short stories about their lives, their communities or imagined worlds with the goal of encouraging personal expression while building basic video production skills. To keep learning active over the summer months, an Intro to Coding Club and a Coding Day Camp are being offered to Lansing area youth this summer.

“What stands out to me is the mentorship pipeline this work has created, especially through programs like Code Coaches, where high schoolers are designing and leading lessons for elementary students,” said Jillian Winn, director of the Lansing Regional SmartZone and LEAP. “It's not just about teaching a skill: it's building leadership and confidence in the teens while sparking curiosity in the younger kids.”

In addition to school‑based clubs, the partnership has collaborated on several community events offered in conjunction with the East Lansing Public Library. These include Demystifying A.I., a session designed to strengthen teens’ understanding of artificial intelligence, and Vibe Coding for the Community, a program where participants explored how to create apps using A.I. tools to address community needs. MSU Extension staff also organized a Robotics Day at the East Lansing Public Library with support from MSU Future Spartan Engineers, MSU Smart Microsystems Lab, Lansing Makers Network and ELHS Robotics Team, providing hands-on robotics experiences to 172 participants.

Everett High School students earned Best of Show at the 2026 Michigan Student Film Festival for their short film, showcasing their creativity, storytelling abilities and media production skills that were introduced in the 4EVERett afterschool 4-H program. The achievement reflects the impact of hands-on learning experiences that helped students develop their skills as digital creators.

Mindful Mosaics was another recent Ingham County 4-H program. This program was designed to engage students at the Refugee Development Center in interactive lessons and activities that integrated the arts, culture and technology to teach mindfulness skills for stress reduction. The program concluded with a culminating showcase event where participants presented the projects they created. These projects reflected the unique “mosaic” of their identities, highlighting the skills and personal insight they developed throughout the program.

All these programs introduced students in the Lansing region to the fundamentals of coding and programming to prepare them for 21st century careers. All illustrate that through collaborative partnerships, 4-H staff are fostering an interest in coding, programming and creative pathways among school-aged students in Ingham County.

“There's clear demand for coding education at the elementary level,” said Winn. “Coding is often not introduced until students are older, yet early exposure to these skills matters for building both interest and confidence. That demand showed up directly in the data: every coding class offered this year filled to capacity quickly.”

Looking to the future, MSU Extension and Michigan 4-H hope to continue feeding this interest in the Ingham County community through continued collaboration with the Lansing Regional SmartZone and LEAP. To learn more about the Apple CEI Youth Coding Academy for the Lansing Regional SmartZone program, contact Paty Monterrosa  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.