Ignite by 4-H

Registration

Register between August 1, 2026 – August 27, 2027 in 4-H Online.

Payment

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 2027 for Ignite.

Program Description

For four days at Ignite by 4-H, teens from all over the country come to Washington 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.

We are sending youth to participate in three exciting tracks this coming year:

• Community Accelerator
  • Community Accelerators is a dynamic track where teens learn to drive change at the local level through social entrepreneurship, service learning, and community-based problem solving. Teens come together to collaborate, share ideas, and develop innovative solutions for real-world challenges—creating transformative progress that benefits all communities. By harnessing their creativity and passion, participants become catalysts for meaningful, lasting change.
• Animal Science
  • The Animal Science track is for teens passionate about animals, biology, and their impact on food systems and communities. This immersive experience focuses on the science and care of animals through hands-on learning in fields such as veterinary science, meat science and production, ranching, livestock management, and equine science. Teens will gain practical knowledge in animal health, nutrition, and agricultural practices that support ethical, sustainable animal care.
• STEM
  • In the STEM track, teens will experience innovation in action through hands-on challenges in robotics, engineering, coding, and emerging technologies. They’ll dive into fields like artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, physics, and chemistry—developing the technical and analytical skills to thrive in a technology-driven world. This track encourages experimentation, creative problem-solving, and future-focused thinking.

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 need.

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.