MSU Extension 4 H and Local School Partnerships Prepare Ingham County Youth for Future Careers Through Innovative Technology Programming
EAST LANSING & LANSING, Mich.—(December 15, 2025)—The team at MSU Extension 4-H has been hard at work on their Apple Community Education Initiative programming for the SmartZone. This technology and STEM programming has the overarching goal of expanding access to coding, technology, entrepreneurship, and creative learning opportunities for youth in Ingham County, through partnerships with East Lansing Public Schools and Lansing School District. This work prepares students for future careers in technology, innovation, and creative industries, while strengthening the region’s long-term talent pipeline.
Their current initiative focuses on four key areas: coding education, robotics application, digital storytelling, and artificial intelligence literacy. These efforts are designed to create a cohesive learning pathway that fosters technical competency, engineering design skills, and meaningful community engagement among local students.
In the area of coding, the program is establishing a structured progression of learning that spans from elementary to high school. At Whitehills Elementary, they will be hosting both Introductory and Advanced Coding Special Interest Clubs. These programs utilize tools such as Sphero robots and Swift Playgrounds to instill foundational computational thinking and programming concepts. To support this pipeline, the new Code Coaches program at East Lansing High School will train older students to serve as instructors for workshops like these at other elementary schools in the area. This model not only supports younger learners but also develops essential leadership and instructional skills in high school students, preparing them for future academic and professional environments.
The robotics programming is designed to bridge the gap between digital code and physical application. Through events like building Sphero Robot Chariots at East Lansing Public Library’s Maker Monday and the broader Robotics Day exhibition (also at ELPL), participants will engage in engineering design challenges, and connect with professionals who use robotics in their careers. These activities are engaging for youth, while their primary objective is to demonstrate how programming is applied to control physical systems. Understanding this interaction between hardware and software is a critical skill for the modern workforce, and these programs aim to provide early exposure to engineering concepts and career pathways.
Digital storytelling programming at Everett High School engages students in the creation of micro-documentaries and animated shorts, using a range of digital tools to strengthen technical competency, creative confidence, and transferable digital media skills that support both academic and career readiness.
Addressing the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, they are also launching specific initiatives regarding Artificial Intelligence. Their approach is two-fold, addressing both safety and practical application. They will host an AI Literacy Night to educate teens on the responsible and safe use of these emerging tools. Following this, the Vibe Coding course will encourage participants to move from consumers to creators. In this course, teens will utilize AI generation tools to build functional apps and websites that benefit the community, effectively taking an idea from concept to reality through cutting edge technology.
Looking ahead to the spring, they are currently developing a Spring Break Coding Camp at MacDonald Middle School to further deepen these skills, alongside tentative plans for participation in various 4-H events. They look forward to a productive year of impactful programming that expands access, builds skills, and inspires the next generation of innovators.
About the Apple Community Education Initiative from MSU Extension 4-H
The Apple Community Education Initiative (Apple CEI) is a youth-focused program delivered by MSU Extension 4-H that provides hands-on learning experiences in coding, technology, and creative skills. The program is designed to engage students in Ingham County with interactive, research-based curriculum that fosters problem-solving, innovation, and 21st-century skills.
Apple CEI offers structured opportunities for youth to explore technology and entrepreneurship pathways through coding workshops, creative projects, and project-based learning activities. By connecting students with real-world applications and industry-relevant skills, the program aims to ignite curiosity, build confidence, and prepare young people for future careers in technology, creative industries, and innovation-driven fields.
Through its focus on equitable access, Apple CEI ensures that all students have the chance to develop essential digital literacy, critical thinking, and collaborative skills, creating early pathways into STEM, technology, and creative careers.
If you believe these efforts matter, please share your support for continued SmartZone funding with your State legislators and local municipalities.