Presented by:   Esther Oyola

Build a snack and grow your leadership skills at the same time! In this interactive workshop, youth will create their own delicious trail mix while exploring different leadership qualities at each station. Every ingredient represents a strength, and by the end, you’ll mix a snack and a leadership style that’s uniquely yours!

Special Notes: Be aware that food allergens may be present.

Presented by:  4-H University Planning Committee

Want the inside scoop on the animal industry? Spend time with the 4-HU Executive Board and learn from fellow 4-H leaders who are actively using these skills in their own projects. Dive into exciting agriculture topics and hear firsthand what it takes to succeed.

Presented by: Channing Crosby, Harper Holt, Jade Lowery, Malec Carpenter, and Marie Arick

Using your five senses, you will be introduced to the art of cheese tasting. Learn about fresh, soft, and hard cheeses, their characteristics such as water content, pH and acidity, all of which make unique cheeses. Through tasting activities, you'll assess the cheese bloom for taste characteristics such as buttery, creamy, grassy, fruitiness, or sharpness.

Special Notes: Please do not sign up if you have any skin sensitivities or allergies/intolerances to milk or lactose.

Presented by: Shaina Spann

Unleash your creativity at Colors & Clovers, a fun, relaxed painting workshop! Follow along step-by-step to create your own masterpiece while enjoying music, laughs, and time with friends. No painting experience needed, just bring your creativity and get ready to add some color to your 4-H University experience.

Presented by: Heather Young

This interactive session will help participants build and refine their elevator pitch, a quick, confident way to introduce themselves and their ideas. Youth will brainstorm and craft their pitches, first individually and then collaboratively with their group. They will practice, polish their delivery, and present their final pitch to the full group, building confidence and communication skills along the way.

Presented by: Alexandra Draper and Jessica Sprain

Take your 4-H experience global! Learn what it’s like to host an international exchange student and travel abroad through the 4-H exchange program. Meet visiting youth from Japan, explore Japanese culture, and hear stories from Florida 4-H members who have participated in international exchanges.

Presented by: Luis Rodriguez and Amy Vu

Step into the fascinating world of honeybees! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore honeybee biology, learn about the pests and diseases that affect colonies, and discover the tools real beekeepers use. Tour the UF/IFAS Honeybee Lab, hear from experts, and get an up-close look at a live hive demonstration.

Special Notes: Closed toed shoes required. Long sleeves and long pants are recommended.

Presented by: Katie Howard

Get a head start on your college journey! Through fun games and interactive activities, you’ll explore what to expect during your first year of college, from managing time and money to navigating campus life. Learn practical tips, build confidence, and prepare for the exciting transition ahead.

Presented by: Michael Smith and Josh Suzuki

Ready to explore the world of hunting in Florida? This interactive session will introduce the essential skills, knowledge, and preparation needed to hunt safely and responsibly. Learn about wildlife, equipment, and the role hunting plays in conservation while hearing from experienced outdoorsmen.

Presented by: Jesse Price

Take a break from the Serious and come have fun with Improv! Youth will have the opportunity to learn about Improv and how it can be used in everyday life. We will play different games and exercises to help build improv skills, which may surprise you as being some life skills as well.

Special Notes: Long pants or leggings under dresses are required. You should wear comfortable, flat shoes. Long hair must be tied back.

Presented by: Courtney Toelle

Get hands-on with leatherworking by creating your own custom belt! Learn how to safely cut leather, punch holes, set rivets, and finish edges like a pro. These beginner skills will open the door to many other leather projects you can create on your own. Note: If you want to make a belt for a show buckle, you are encouraged to bring the buckle with you to this workshop.

Presented by: Erin Mugge

Take a closer look at Florida’s incredible marine life through a hands-on dissection of a native marine invertebrate. Learn about the adaptations that help it survive, its role in the ecosystem, and why these organisms are so important to Florida’s coastal environments.

Special Notes: This dissection may contain shrimp or squid, so allergens may be present.

Presented by: Gabi Ius

Discover how marketing shapes the world around you! In this hands-on workshop, youth will explore everyday marketing messages and learn how communication skills help them present themselves to employers, partners, and future opportunities. Through interactive activities and reflection, participants will practice thinking critically about marketing and their own personal brand.

Presented by: Erica Asti

Life is full of challenges! Join this workshop to learn real-life skills you’ll actually use. Connect with your inner power through movement, mindfulness, and other practical techniques to calm your mind and steady your breath. These tools will give you the confidence, clarity, and strength you need to stay grounded through life challenges.

Presented by: Sarah Davis

Turn everyday materials into amazing works of art! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll transform simple toilet paper rolls into creative mini sculptures and ornaments using paint, glue, and your imagination. Explore how recycling and repurposing materials can spark creativity while helping the environment. Come ready to design, build, and bring your ideas to life!

Special Notes: Must be comfortable working with spray paints and hot glue guns.

Presented by: 4-H University Planning Committee

Design and create outfits using only recycled and repurposed materials! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll work as a team to turn everyday items into wearable art while learning about sustainability, creativity, and problem-solving. The workshop will end with a fun runway show to showcase your designs.

Presented by: Rachel Higgs

Get ready to be a hero in your own community! Join our American Red Cross class at 4-H University, where you’ll learn how to stay safe and prepared during natural disasters like hurricanes. We’ll cover essential preparedness skills, practice hands-only CPR, and even plan your own disaster go-bag. Don’t miss this hands-on, life-saving experience! Be Red Cross ready!

Special Note: If you received a 4-H Serves Red Cross scholarship to attend 4-H University, you must select this workshop at least once.

Presented by: Arielle Pierce and Dr. Sarah Bush

Ready to lead without running on empty? This workshop dives into what burnout really looks like for teens juggling school, clubs, and leadership roles—and how to build the kind of resilience that helps you stay confident, balanced, and at your best. Through hands‑on activities and real talk, you’ll learn practical ways to manage stress, support your team, and grow as a leader in 4‑H and beyond.

Presented by:  Kenedi Mills and Tara Kalb

Discover how literacy shapes the world around you! In this interactive workshop, youth will explore how reading, writing, and critical thinking appear in social media, music, news, and everyday decisions. Through hands-on activities and group challenges, participants will learn to spot misinformation, understand bias, and communicate their ideas with confidence.

Presented by:  Paula Davis and Amber Norris

Put your creativity and quick thinking to the test! In this fun twist on the Florida 4-H Food Challenge, youth will use art supplies and their imagination to design a “dish” using a mystery ingredient and a surprise dish category. Then, present your creation just like the real competition, explaining your idea, ingredients, and inspiration to the group!

Presented by:  Nicole Crawson, Misty Williams, and Elaine Simfukewe

What happens when AI, robots, and art collide? In this interactive workshop, you’ll program Sphero robots and use AI tools to create a moving painting! Watch your robotic artist roll across the canvas and turn technology into a colorful masterpiece.

Special Notes: Wear clothes suitable for painting.

Presented by: 4-HU Youth Executive Board

Ditch the textbooks and dive into hands-on STEM! Use recycled “junk drawer” materials to solve real-world engineering challenges, then explore physics and math in motion with a high-energy intro to line dancing. Discover how creativity, rhythm, and problem-solving work together to build—and move—something awesome.

Presented by: Caden Gruebel and Emily Zak

Have you ever considered starting a podcast? This hands-on workshop helps empower youth to find their voice, build confidence in public speaking, develop storyboarding skills, and learn about podcast production. Whether you have a big idea or just a passion for sharing your thoughts, this workshop will give you the tools to help create a podcast from scratch. Come discover your voice and let us help enhance your knowledge with tech tips and tools in podcasting!

Presented by:  Heather Futch

Turn your creativity into a real product! In this hands-on workshop, youth will design original artwork or color pre-made designs and use heat-press technology to transfer their creations onto tote bags. Along the way, they’ll explore basic design concepts and discover how art, technology, and entrepreneurship connect, leaving with a custom bag they created themselves.