Workforce Development

We Grow Scientists

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The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) will host the second annual “We Grow Scientists” event on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, from 3-7:00 p.m. at Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory.

This afternoon of hands-on learning and activities will showcase the many STEM fields CFAES has to offer and will include a look at Waterman facilities such as the Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex (CEARC). “We Grow Scientists” is a free event open to learners of all ages looking to learn more about STEM in their community as part of the COSI Science Festival (May 1-4, 2024). Bring the whole family! Visit go.osu.edu/cosi24 for additional information.

Spark EXPO registration is fast approaching!

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From June 12-15, teens at the Spark EXPO will learn about agriculture and related STEAM fields from industry experts, and faculty and staff of the Ohio State College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).

Spark EXPO is open to all Ohio students who have completed the eighth grade or ninth grade at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year. Participants do not need to be enrolled in the 4-H program.

As part of Spark EXPO, students visit Ohio State’s Columbus and Wooster campuses and learn from Ohio State students, teachers, scientists, and researchers. Students explore careers, hear from Ohio 4-H alumni who share their career stories, and learn about the college and career-readiness program: Ohio 4-H Pathways to the Future.

The deadline to register is April 17, and details are at go.osu.edu/4hsparkexpo.

The event includes on-campus accommodations, meals, program materials, and transportation. Supervision is provided by adult program staff.

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Tours!

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Looking for something to do in between the Ohio 4-H Conference and Ohio State Collegiate 4-H’s Plowboy Prom? Join us for CFAES campus tours, career exploration, and a college preparation session. Pizza will also be included for attendees!

Register at http://go.osu.edu/b4plowboy before March 6 to guarantee your spot.

 

ExploreAg Summer Camps

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Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is pleased to announce they will once again be hosting several free ExploreAg Camp experiences this summer!

ExploreAg Overview

Purpose: Discover careers linked to agriculture and related STEM fields through a series of immersive and hands-on experiences and tours.

Who: Ohio students entering grades 9-12 in the fall, or soon-to-be recent high school graduates.

Cost: Free

Learn more and apply by April 15 at ExploreAg.org

2024 ExploreAg Summer Sessions

  • May 31, COLT Electric Lineman Training, Mt. Gilead
  • June 4-7, Wilmington College
  • June 9-14, OSU Columbus Campus
  • June 16-21, OSU Wooster Campus
  • July 7-12, University of Findlay

ExploreAg is Ohio Farm Bureau’s signature ag literacy and workforce development program, offering free week, multi-day and day-long immersion programs for high school students. In ExploreAg, teens learn about agriculture and related STEM fields from industry experts, scientists and educators.

Questions or concerns? Contact info@exploreag.org.

Save the Date: Ohio 4-H Spark EXPO

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This year’s event will be June 12-15, 2024, on The Ohio State University’s Columbus Campus!

What is 4-H Spark Expo?

The 4-H Spark EXPO (Exploring Pathway Opportunities) is an exciting opportunity for youth who have completed the eighth grade at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year. There will be four days of fun and learning with activities to explore a variety of career and educational opportunities. Attendees will develop valuable skills, make new friends, and fuel individual growth; and they will get the chance to tour Ohio State’s campus. To learn more about the event or to pre-registration visit: go.osu.edu/4Hsparkexpo

Who can attend?

Youth who have completed the eighth grade of the current academic year. Space is limited as we will only be able to accommodate up to 75 youth.

BuckeyeNext Available to Licking County 4-H Members

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BuckeyeNext is a program available to Ohio 4-H members that can be utilized in a variety of ways.

One way is to provide a location for 4-H members to track their involvement through 4-H, including what projects they take, officer positions held, awards received, teen leadership roles, and other activities they are involved in.  They can then pull up a summary of their information which can be used to help complete applications, scholarship, Achievement Awards Forms, job applications, etc. It serves as an electronic portfolio that members can easily update and pull information from as they need it.

Members can also complete learning modules that focus on industry-accepted credentials and gain knowledge in occupational competencies. Members can earn points for completing various modules and activities with a focus on career-ready competencies to help youth with a successful transition into “what’s next” after they complete 4-H and high school.

You can learn more about the app by visiting: http://go.osu.edu/buckeyenext

If you have questions, please reach out to Margo Overholt-Seckel at overholt-seckel.1@osu.edu.

YouScience Helps Youth Explore Careers

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YouScience helps our students chart their path from ‘I don’t know’ to post-secondary pursuits and career confidence and success. By completing a series of fun and engaging ‘brain-games,’ students learn where their natural strengths are and how they can leverage their strengths in post-secondary pursuits and beyond. YouScience combines decades of rigorous scientific research and cutting-edge matching algorithms to uniquely identify the intersection of your students’ strengths, passions, and future opportunities. Learn more: https://go.osu.edu/4hyouscience

Youth can request access at https://go.osu.edu/youscienceoptin.

Save the Date! Ohio 4-H SparkEXPO

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This exciting opportunity allows youth to explore a variety of career and educational opportunities in sessions at Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Attendees will get the chance to develop valuable skills, make new friends, and fuel individual growth! They’ll even get to experience The Ohio State University Campus, too. Open to all Ohio youth.

WHEN: June 12-15, 2024

WHERE: Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, OH 43210 on the OSU Columbus campus

COST: Thanks to generous financial support from the Ohio 4-H Foundation and others, the registration fee is $75.

Registration info will be shared once it becomes available.

Learn more: http://go.osu.edu/4Hsparkexpo.

MRW Work Ethic Certification

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Employability Skills

In 2008, Mike Rowe created the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to launch a national PR campaign for skilled labor. When Mike started the foundation, he wanted to find a way to articulate the qualities he values most. He ended up writing the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, which stands for “Skill and Work Ethic Aren’t Taboo.” The S.W.E.A.T. Pledge consists of 12 statements that outline the importance of four pillars—work ethic, personal responsibility, delayed gratification, and a positive attitude.

Technical skills help you get the job, work ethic helps you keep the job.

The MRW Work Ethic Certification focuses on the 12 statements of the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge. Each statement has a story, and each story comes from Mike’s personal experience working with entrepreneurs and hardworking people across the country. Through this program, we break down the origin of each statement in 12 lessons and explore why we believe every student and worker can benefit from embracing this pledge, regardless of their job or skill set.

 

MRW Work Ethic Plan

Ohio 4-H is one of the first.

Ohio is one of the first 4-H programs to offer this opportunity to high school students in the nation! However, it didn’t start there. Since 2021, The Ohio State University ATI was among the first 20 colleges in the nation to offer the Work Ethic Certification, and the first in Ohio.

COURSE OFFERINGS

Virtual Course

Open to all Ohio high school youth.

Dates: Every Monday and Wednesday from September 18 – October 4
Time: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Must be able to attend all sessions.

Click here to register.

Registration is due September 8. Limited to 20 participants.