Home » 4-H Opportunities » Statewide Events and Opportunities » Summer Academy 2025 at UW-Madison: June 16-19
Summer Academy 2025 at UW-Madison: June 16-19
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 16-19, 2025
Location: UW-Madison Campus (Sellery 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 Sellery 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 17 – April 27, 2025
Registration Platform: 4HOnline
Steps:
- Go to your youth’s profile in 4HOnline
- Click on the “Events” tab
- Select “Summer Academy”
- Choose an educational track
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/.
2025 Track Descriptions
Agriculture & Animal Sciences
Explore agriculture and animal sciences with facility tours and hands-on experiences in dairy, livestock, meat science, food science, veterinary science, plants, and more.
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.
Civic Engagement &
Local Leadership
Our track will help you reimagine your community and work to develop a plan that can build the community you want to be a part of now into the future. We want you to be able to not just imagine yourself in local leadership but provide tools so you can make it happen.
Performing Arts
Get creative while developing your performance skill through sessions in disciplines like Theater, Dance and Music.
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 your chance to build, wire, and plumb your way to new opportunities!
The Transportation Experience
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. You 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.
The Visual Arts: Exploring the depths of what it means to be an Artist
Youth will work with artists to develop their creative skills and build a deeper understanding of some of the applications of art as a critical part of any culture.
The Water Quest:
Explore how researchers study the health of Wisconsin waterways using analytical methods and observation. Be introduced to invasive species detection methods, understand the importance of healthy waterways and be exposed to careers in the field.
Cost
Registration Fee: $600 $500 per youth
Covers lodging, meals, transportation, activities, and more.
State Scholarships available to reduce costs (included in 4HOnline registration).
Special Thanks: A portion of the cost is supported by the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation and donors.
Transportation
Bus Options: Statewide transportation provided. Choose a bus route during registration.
Routes:
- Bus 1: Northeast (Antigo/Crandon, Wausau)
- Bus 2: Northwest (Spooner, Eau Claire, Black River Falls)
- Bus 3: Southwest (La Crosse, Platteville, Dodgeville)
- Bus 4: Southeast (Green Bay, Milwaukee, 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 15th
- Stipend: Available for Young Adult Leaders
- Roles: Lead Floor Advisor, Dorm Monitor, Theater/Assembly Monitor, Pedestrian Safety, Recreation Supervisor
- Application Deadline: March 15th
- Stipend: Available for Young Adult Leaders
Participant Website
After registration, participants will receive access to the 2025 Summer Academy participant website, which includes all the information about the program, campus, and activities.
This program is supported by the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation. For more information please go to www.Wis4HFoundation.org.
Thank you to ATC for sponsoring Summer Academy!
