November 17, 2025
Funding Secured for the Summer Enrichment Program
The Kansas 4-H Foundation and Kansas 4-H are proud to announce a transformative gift from the Patterson Family Foundation to sustain and expand the Summer Enrichment Program. This generous commitment of $2,250,000 over three years will build on the success of programming originally launched through the Kansas Department of Education’s Summer Engagement Grant.
The Summer Enrichment Program provides youth with hands-on, project-based learning experiences in STEM, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Creative Arts, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Personal Development. Through these opportunities, youth are encouraged to discover their “sparks”—unique interests and passions—and apply them in collaborative learning and leadership settings.
At the heart of this initiative, youth are engaged in meaningful learning experiences built around four essential elements: belonging, independence, generosity, and mastery. These principles ensure that every young person feels connected, empowered, and capable of making a positive impact.
Kansas 4-H is proud to align with the Beyond Ready movement, a national effort to increase 4-H participation from 6 to 10 million youth by 2030. In support of this vision, Kansas 4-H has set three bold goals:
- Engage with every Kansas youth.
- Increase traditional enrollment by 10% by 2030.
- Increase non-traditional enrollment by 10% by 2030.
Achieving these goals will require innovative, accessible programming and strategic investment. Extension units across Kansas are encouraged to think big and explore or enhance partnerships with schools, libraries, and community organizations to incorporate Summer Enrichment into their local programming.
Details on fund administration are being finalized in collaboration with Kansas State University, Kansas 4-H, and the Kansas 4-H Foundation. Updates will be shared as soon as they are available.