For four days, 2026 Ignite Conference in Washington, DC– March 25-29, 2026, teens from all over the country come to D.C. to collaborate, connect, and cultivate a passion for expanding their minds and their world – becoming resilient and ready for everything life has to offer. Teens will immerse themselves in hands-on workshops, experiences, activities in their key programming areas of AgriScience, Animal Science, Community Accelerators, Healthy Living (featuring soccer), or STEM to continue to find their spark.

Action learning is a powerful problem-solving process that builds successful leaders and teams; it involves a small group working on a real problem, taking action, and learning together. Action Learning Project participants will research, plan, implement, and evaluate a group-initiated, community-engaged project that addresses a specific a need.

Wisconsin 4-H welcomes youth in grades 10-12 to register via 4-H Online for Ignite in September 2025. Wisconsin 4-H is planning to send a statewide delegation for tracks in Animal Science and STEM in 2026.

Location: Bethesda, Maryland & Washington D.C., March 25-29, 2026

Dates include travel time to/from Washington, D.C. Around 20 Wisconsin 4 H’ers will attend this leadership program sponsored by National 4-H Council.

Participants are:

• 4-H members in 10th-12th grade at selection; minimum age 15 during experience.
• Participants register through 4HOnline. Check with your county office about scholarship opportunities.
• Participants carry county approval through the experience.
• Participants must not have attended Ignite in the past.

Costs:

We expect the cost to be approximately $2500 per participant. The registration fee covers: Ignite by 4-H conference registration, air travel to/from Wisconsin (exact airport(s) TBD) to a Washington-area airport, ground transportation to/from the DC-area airport and the hotel, transportation during the conference, housing and most meals at the event, a Wisconsin 4-H shirt, and expenses related to providing trained adult chaperones and administrative support.

Participants should additionally expect to pay the following out-of-pocket: transportation costs to/from Wisconsin airport, checked baggage fee (if applicable), any additional meals/snacks, and souvenirs.

County offices will be invoiced in early 2026 for Ignite.

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