March 17, 2026
Explore, Learn, and Grow: Two Digital Resources to Enhance Your 4-H Program
Let’s imagine that spring has officially sprung and there are no more Kansas fake springs in our future. With spring comes renewed energy, fresh ideas, and the perfect time to explore new tools to support your 4-H members. At 4-H Program Rally, I highlighted two resources that can help youth learn, volunteers lead & teach, and families engage, no matter where you are in the state. Since not everyone could attend this professional development opportunity, I wanted to share these resources with everyone.
CLOVER by 4-H: Learning That Goes Anywhere
If you haven't introduced your members to CLOVER by 4-H yet, March is a great time to start. CLOVER is an online learning platform that empowers all young people to find their spark, featuring 190+ interactive activities for ages 5–18, along with gamification and augmented reality. What makes CLOVER especially powerful is that activities are infused with Positive Youth Development principles, and youth can earn pins, certificates, and rewards to validate their learning.
Whether you're a student, parent, or educator, CLOVER has something valuable to offer. It also provides hands-on opportunities through downloadable lessons. Activities range from coding and engineering to agriculture and animal science — there's truly something for every interest and learning style.
Getting started is simple. Youth and families can create a free account at 4-h.org/clover or download the CLOVER mobile app. Club leaders can also generate a CLOVER Code so members can connect with your group directly on the platform.
4-H Curriculum Hub: Smarter Curriculum Choices for Beyond Ready Youth
As Kansas 4-H continues to embrace the national 4-H "Beyond Ready" initiative — preparing youth to be ready for work and for life — the quality of the curriculum and programming we deliver matters more than ever. That's why I'm excited to highlight the 4-H Curriculum Hub, developed by Utah State University 4-H, as a valuable tool for agents and volunteers across our state.
The Curriculum Hub helps you quickly identify if the curriculum and/or programming materials are Beyond Ready. It uses a three-tier quality framework, so you always know the strength of what you're putting in front of your learners.
Tier I – Research-based & Vetted curricula represent the gold standard. These materials are developed by university faculty or national organizations, peer-reviewed and formally evaluated, grounded in research and best practices, and meet national or state education standards. They include pre/post-assessments with data used for program improvement. Tier I curricula are ideal for core 4-H programs, long-term initiatives, and funded programs — and are the strongest choice when you need credible, measurable outcomes that directly support Beyond Ready goals.
Tier II – Vetted, Not Fully Research-based curricula are created by Extension faculty or educators and informally peer-reviewed for quality. They align with best practices but may lack full research validation and use informal assessments or pilot evaluations. These are well-suited for short-term programs, pilot initiatives, and workshops — a solid middle ground when Tier I options aren't available but credibility is still needed.
Tier III – Unvetted & Informal Activities are developed by volunteers or sourced online with no formal review process. These work well for one-time activities, club meetings, and camps where fun and exploratory engagement are the primary goals, and can be led by staff, volunteers, or youth leaders.
Understanding these tiers helps us be intentional. When we're designing programming aimed at helping youth be Beyond Ready, reaching for Tier I and Tier II curriculum ensures our lessons have the rigor and structure to make a real difference. Tier III still has its place for engagement and spark, but knowing the difference empowers us to make smarter choices for our members.
You can access the 4-H Curriculum Hub, including the full tiers description, at extension.usu.edu/utah4h/curriculum-hub.
This Spring, Let's Grow Together
The 4-H program has always been about learning by doing, and these two resources put that philosophy at the fingertips of every young person, family, and volunteer in our program. I encourage you to explore CLOVER with your 4-H volunteers at an upcoming meeting, and take a few minutes to browse the Curriculum Hub the next time you're planning a project or activity. Together, we can ensure every Kansas 4-H experience truly prepares our youth to be Beyond Ready.
As always, thank you for everything you do to make 4-H a transformational experience for young people across our state. Here's to a continued season of growth!