Other 4-H Programs

School Programs

Ag in the Classroom:

• Integrating the National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum into STEM units
• Connecting school curriculum to careers – Identifying and integrating specific examples of Ag-tech careers in Monroe County that can serve to engage and motivate students in STEM.
• USDA news related to Agriculture Careers: "Employment Outlook Remains Strong for Agriculture Graduates"

Citizen Science:

• Using Monroe County data for Inquiry – Incorporating data from a variety of citizen science projects (e.g. Bird Sleuth, Habitat Network, Monarch Watch, iMapInvasives, GLOBE, Stream Monitoring Network) into specific STEM units.

School Gardens:

• Sustainable school gardens for pollinators, produce / herbs, rain gardens
• School cafeteria recycling and food waste-to-compost systems

Cultivating Community Work-Skills Program

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County's 4-H Youth Development Program in collaboration with the City of Rochester's Department of Recreation and Human Services offers paid summer horticulture, civic engagement, and life-skill development experiences to youth ages 14-18.

For 6 weeks each summer, a group of teens from across the City of Rochester engage in the Cultivating Community work-skills program. During the mornings, the crew learns about horticulture and urban agriculture, completing projects to benefit city neighborhoods; in the afternoons, they are engaged in personal and life skill development such as cooking, financial management, resumes and interviewing, food systems and justice, and more. 

A winter session is also provided for youth to explore citizenship projects based on youth-voice, utilizing the Positive Youth Development model.

Cultivating Community is a tremendous success for the youth, their families, and for City of Rochester neighborhoods and community!

Last updated June 3, 2026