Youth Development

All Youth Development Content

Group of youth standing atop a hill

4-H Outdoor Education

The term ‘outdoor education’ refers to a wide range of experiential education in, for, and about the outdoors. Outdoor education experiences range from single events to year-long programs for youth in South Dakota.

Youth campers working on a project together

Clover Connect

Youth across South Dakota, especially in rural areas, benefit from opportunities to explore their interests, build skills and start imagining what their future could look like. Clover Connect brings SDSU and learning opportunities to communities across South Dakota.

chalkboard background with puzzle pieces and lightbulb on it

Operation Occupation: Unlock Your Potential

Operation Occupation aims to give young people an insight into various career opportunities right from their screens. The interactive gaming experience allows youth to explore different industries and specific career paths while participating in a virtual escape room format.

Teenager talking with adult while looking at a computer

Career Exploration

SDSU Extension 4-H has created the Career Conversations: Exploring My Future in the 605 and Operation Occupation: Unlock Your Potential, which are virtual career exploration courses that are self-guided and free of charge for teachers and youth.

Three young girls weighing sugar on a kitchen scale.

Life Skills Passport Curriculum

Curriculum to help youth and young adults learn applicable life skills.

4-H member working on a robotics project

Youth Development

SDSU Extension's youth development programs help prepare youth to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood.

Young girl pretending to cook in a children's play kitchen.

Ages and Stages of Youth Development

Fact sheet on the ages and stages of youth development.

a group of young children wearing 4-H clothing

South Dakota 4-H Cloverbud Fun Zone Newsletters

The Cloverbud Fun Zone newsletters provide hands-on activities, icebreakers, and service projects for the Cloverbud program, specifically designed for youth kindergarten through third grade.

A chalkboard background with a icons on it that symbolize a variety of career areas

Career Conversations: Exploring My Future in the 605

Career Conversations features interviews with South Dakota professionals inspiring teachers and youth to explore occupations at their own pace.

Woman helping boy on computer

4-H Workforce Development

4-H defines workforce development as employment pathways and opportunities that will prepare youth to enter the workforce.