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Summer Academy 2026 at UW-Madison: June 14-18
Summer Academy is a Positive Youth Development Institute Career & College Readiness state educational experience.
Discover Pathways to Your Future!
Join us at the UW-Madison Campus for an exciting, hands-on experience at Summer Academy. This Positive Youth Development program helps youth explore career and hobby pathways in various fields like agriculture, STEM, leadership, arts, and more. You’ll also have the chance to build friendships and networks with people from across Wisconsin.
Program Overview
Dates: June 14-18, 2026
Location: UW-Madison Campus (Dejope Residence Hall for lodging)
Participants: Youth in grades 8-11
Activities: A variety of track-based activities, seminars, campus tours, performances, and hands-on experiences. Summer Academy will be held at the UW-Madison Campus, where youth and adult chaperones will stay at Dejope Residence hall. Youth will be participating in a wide variety of track-based activities and seminars. They will be able to visit different locations on Campus and in Madison. They will also have the opportunity to hear from speakers, watch a performance from the 4-H Drama Company, and participate in a variety of fun hands-on activities!
Registration Information
Open Dates: March – April 2026
Registration Platform: 4HOnline
If your youth is already enrolled in 4HOnline, you can find instructions on how to register for the event here.
If your youth is not already enrolled in 4HOnline, you can find instructions on how to create a profile and register for the event here.
Paper enrollment forms are available here: https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/4h-resources/youth-enrollment-paper-form/.
2026 Track Descriptions
Exploratory Tracks:
(Grades 8–10) Theme: Experiential Learning
Best for first-time delegates. This track is designed for youth who are looking to learn about a number of career pathways and discover new interests. As the name suggests, it is a place where you can explore your future through hands-on learning experiences in a variety of content areas—from Science, Agriculture, and Game Design to Communications, LEGOs, and the Visual & Performing Arts. Each youth will participate in 3 or more different workshops in each track to get a broad taste of what is available. Workshops are grouped into three career areas so that youth will get a variety of experiences.
Adventure Track
Leadership Block: Embark on a post-secondary quest and learn about leadership styles! Join the Wisconsin 4-H Leadership Ambassadors to explore and build your leadership skills!
Performing Arts Block: Youth will work with veteran members of the 4-H Drama Company to explore improv, theater games, and creative movement. Additionally they will work with UW Music staff and students to create, learn and play original music.
Entrepreneurship Block: Entrepreneurs notice problems that need solving. Youth will explore how sparks turn into solutions in a business, who customers are and what to ask them, and will work with a team to improve their ideas.
Expedition Track
Lego Block: You will use LEGO to explore creativity in a new way and then will put this creativity to use as they work with a team to develop and code a LEGO robot to complete a series of tasks.
Climate & Weather Block: Youth will explore connections between the land, culture and climate through hands on and experiential sessions near the campus. This will include time outside, collection of weather data, and learning about the dendrochronology of dugout canoes.
Art Block: Youth will work with members of the 4-H state Visual Arts team to complete a hands art activity and learn from with members of the 4-H Communications, Media and Marketing team to improve their communication skills.
Journey Track
Dance and Movement Block: Work with members of UW Dance Exchange to explore creative movement. Appropriate for both skilled and novice dancers who are open to new experiences and exploring creativity.
Computer Science and Cyber Security Block: Spend time exploring cutting-edge research with university researchers and students, with possible topics including cryptography, robotics, or game design. Youth will learn from undergraduate advisors about different UW-Madison majors in computer, data, and information sciences.
Climate and Weather Block: The block will feature hands-on workshops and presentations that cover the various types of severe and hazardous weather that we experience in Wisconsin. We will also invite weather and climate professionals to a career panel, where the youth participants can ask questions about getting into STEM careers.
Voyage Track
Agriculture Block: Descriptions coming soon!
Gaming Block: Youth in this session will explore the basics of esports, including game design and development. Career opportunities in esports will be covered, educating youth on a possible future in this exciting field!
Science Block: Description coming soon!
Core Tracks:
(Grades 9–11) Theme: Career and College Readiness
Best for returning delegates. These tracks are designed for youth who have attended before or who are starting to have specific ideas about their future. Rather than rotating through many topics, youth in Core Tracks will focus on a specific area for 1.5 days, interacting with professionals in the field. This is a chance to dig deeper into career pathways such as Agriculture, Automotive, Culinary Arts, Construction, Health & Wellness, and Artificial Intelligence.
Agriculture & Animal Sciences
Explore agriculture and animal sciences with facility tours and hands-on experiences in animal handling, reproductive biology, veterinary genetics, meat processing, animal welfare, and more.
Artificial Intelligence
Engage in hands-on activities on the UW-Madison campus that help youth develop their skills in responsible and ethical use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Learn more about appropriate AI tools and applications that will prepare participants for any career or college experience!
Automotive
Be ready to experience a transportation career while working with technical college staff and industry professionals to practice industry repairs and experience the transportation industry with some fun competition along the way. Youth will explore the various systems with hands-on activities including creating electrical circuits, using power tools (and a variety of other tools) to disassemble and reassemble components, and learn about components of a variety of vehicles.
Baking & Decorating
Learn the basics (reading a recipe, scaling ingredients, evaluating for doneness, decorating) while gaining confidence that leads to self-sufficiency while exploring career opportunities in baking and decorating. Participants will work with instructors at Madison College to bake and decorate food that may include yeast bread, cookies, and hand pies.
Civic Engagement &
Local Leadership
Our track will help youth reimagine their community and work to develop a plan that can build the community they want to be a part of now into the future. We want participants to be able to not just imagine themselves in local leadership but provide tools so they can make it happen. This track hopes to travel to the Wisconsin Capitol building and see where legislators engage in civic decision making every day.
Culinary
Youth will spend the day in the culinary arts skills lab to gain hands-on experience in a professional cooking environment, focusing on introductory competencies including safety, sanitation, recipe management and execution, and classical cookery techniques.
Health & Wellness
Our health and wellness track participants will explore topics like nutrition, athletic training, and sleep health as well as learn more about health related majors and careers. Participants may have an opportunity to spend time in the sub-zero test kitchen creating their own healthy snacks and visiting the UW Dream Lab. In addition, participants may have the opportunity to learn from and connect directly with public health faculty and healthcare professionals.
Skilled Construction Trades
Explore a rewarding career in the skilled construction trades with this hands-on educational opportunity! Participants will gain experience in carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work through interactive activities led by industry professionals. Participants will also learn about registered apprenticeship programs, the most common form of training in the skilled trades industry. Don’t miss this chance to build, wire, and plumb a way to new opportunities!
Advanced Track:
New! Advanced Academy (Grade 11) Theme: Career and College Readiness
Best for youth ready to transition to college or a career. The Advanced Academy is for older youth looking to take a deep dive into career exploration by working alongside professional educators and practitioners. Participants will spend 15–20 hours working hands-on in the field. Small groups of 6–8 youth will work with a track leader to build skills and make connections with UW-Madison faculty and students.
Arts Track
Youth will work with artists in small groups to develop their creative skills, learn about career options, create a project and build a deeper understanding of some of the applications of art as a critical part of any culture.
Cost
Registration Fee: $150 per youth
Covers lodging, meals, transportation, activities, and more.
State Scholarships available to reduce costs (included in 4HOnline registration).
Special Thanks: Portions of these costs are supported by the WI 4-H Foundation, the Otto Bremer Trust, and private donors.
Transportation
Bus Options: Statewide transportation provided. Choose a bus route during registration.
Routes:
- Bus 1: North/Central (Wausau, Stevens Point)
- Bus 2: Northwest (Rice Lake, Eau Claire, Tomah)
- Bus 3: Southeast (Green Bay, Fond du Lac, Waukesha, Janesville)
Adult Advisors
- Who: 4-H Volunteers & Young Adult Leaders (Ages 19-25)
- Roles: Lead Floor Advisor, Dorm Monitor, Theater/Assembly Monitor, Pedestrian Safety, Recreation Supervisor
- Application Deadline: March 1st
- Stipend: Available for Young Adult Leaders
Participant Website
After registration, participants will receive access to the 2026 Summer Academy participant website, which includes all the information about the program, campus, and activities.
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