Summer Spark 2026
Catawba County 4-H 2026 Summer Spark!
What interests you? Try something New! Find your Spark this Summer!! Spaces are limited so register today! Register online.
Helpful Information
Workshops are held at the Agricultural Resources Center, 1175 South Brady Ave, Newton, unless otherwise noted. Trips also depart from the Agriculture Resources Center.
Payment is needed within 5 business day to confirm your registration. *Refunds are not made unless the workshop is cancelled due to weather or low registration.
4-H'ers may use scholarship money to pay for classes of their choice. Summer scholarships are available, email lortiz2@ncsu.edu for an application.
May
Mini-Society
May 26 and 28
9 am-3 pm
Ages 8-13
$40
Instructors: Lisa Ortiz and Dana Florez
Create a Society complete with currency, jobs, businesses, and a Mayor! Learn economic basics as you buy and sell with other Mini-Society citizens. (no outside selling allowed).
June
Jr Beekeepers June 2
9 am-12 pm
Ages 6-8
$10
Instructors: Lori Devine & Catawba Beekeepers Assoc
Take a whirlwind trip into the life of a honeybee. Learn what it takes for these amazing creatures to create a tasty treat!
Mighty Pollinators
June 3&4
9 am-12 pm
Ages 9-18
$10
Instructors: Lori Devine & Catawba Beekeepers Assoc
Get up close and personal with the miraculous world of pollinators! Suit up like a real beekeeper to get an in-depth look inside a honey bee hive.
CAKE Decorating 101
June 2, 3, 4
1 pm-3 pm
Ages 9-14
$30
Instructors: Leah Livingston
Learn cake decorating skills like crumb coating, frosting, edges, and small flowers. Take home your own cake decorating set and 6-inch personally decorated cake!
Cloverbud Camp
June 9-10
9 am-12 pm
Ages 6-8
$20
Instructors: Lisa Ortiz, Dana Florez, and Donna Mull
Enjoy hands-on activities showcasing all aspects of Cooperative Extension! Including horticulture, local foods and cooking, STEM, agriculture and livestock!
Dirt Diggers
June 25
9 am-12 pm
Ages 6-18
$20
Instructors: Kelli Sigmon
Come dig into the world of plants! Explore how plants grow and why they are important to our world. Learn about different parts of a plant and plant seeds. Make a craft and plant something to take home.
Electric Kit
June 25
1-3:30 pm
Ages 11-18
$10
Instructors: Sue Stulpin and It’s Electric Club
Learn to solder electric components on a soil tester. Learn how you can earn a free trip to N 4-H Electric Congress sponsored by Duke Energy.
Chopped Cooking Challenge
June 26
12-4pm
Ages 9-13
$20
Instructors: Kelli Sigmon, Sue Stulpin, and Cooking Club
Learn basic food safety and cooking skills that will be followed during the competition. Then impress the judges with your culinary skills at the Chopped Cooking Challenge!
Animal Science
June 30, 9am-3pm
July 1, 9am-4pm
Ages 9-18
$40
Instructor: Carson Johnson, Livestock Agent. Lisa Oritz, and Dana Florez
Day 1: Get an up close experience with dairy and beef cattle, lunch is included. Day 2: Explore animals of the world at the NC Zoo in Asheboro, pack your own lunch and bring money for snacks in the zoo.
JULY
Farm 2 Fork
July 7, 8
9am-3pm
Ages 9-18
$50
Instructor: April Vigardt, Local Food Agent, Lisa Ortiz, and Dana Florez
Begin the day with a visit to a nearby farm or farmers market and learn how things grow. Then return to the Extension Office for kitchen time. 4-H’ers will learn how to turn farm produce into yummy new recipes.
Citizenship Day Trip
July 9
5:45am-6pm
Ages 8-18
$30
Instructors: Lisa Ortiz and Dana Florez
Ride the train into Raleigh to visit our State Capitol Building and the Legislative Building! Eat lunch at the Daily Planet before driving to North Carolina State University for scoop of Howling Cow ice cream and a walk through the Free Expression Tunnel. Head home in the van after a long day of good citizenship.
Sew Much Fun x2 July 14, 15
1-4pm
Ages 8-18
$50
Instructor: Jessica Stamey
Day 1: Learn the basics of a sewing machine and learn to follow a pattern
Day 2: Then let your imagination take over.
Jamming in the Kitchen
July 28
1pm-4pm
Ages 11-18
$15
Instructors: Donna Mull, Food & Consumer Science Agent
Learn how to make Jam! Including prepping the produce, cooking the fruit, and canning. Take home a jar of jam! *will be ready the following day.
Biking Safety and Virginia Creeper
July 29, 9-10am, July 30, 8am-4pm
Ages 10-18
$40
Instructors: Melanie Sigmon, EMS, Lisa Ortiz, and Dana Florez
Day 1: Learn basic First Aid and Road Safety with hands on activities.
Day 2: Conquer the Virginia Creeper as a team! Bring money or pack your own for lunch on the trail. (Participants must attend both days.)
Musical Petting Zoo
TBD
Ages 10-18
$10
Instructors: Lily Bean, Dana Florez
Check out a variety of instruments up close! Try your hand making music.
Registration
Registration for 4-H Summer Spark is a 2 part process:
- You will register each youth individually
- All youth must be enrolled in 4-H Online to participate in 4-H Summer Spark.
Registration is not confirmed until payment is received. Payment is needed within 5 business days of sign-up. Payment: You may choose to pay online or by check at the Cooperative Extension Office, 1175 S Brady Ave, Newton, NC 28658. We will provide the online payment link following your registration. If you run into an issue with registration, please contact us and we will help you.
4-H Online Enrollment Tips:
- Register on 4-H Online
- You will need to create a family profile and add each child under that profile.
- Please add them as a member and not as a participant.
- Choose Catawba County even if you live in another county because we are only able to see Catawba County enrollments.
- Choose "Summer Spark-Member at Large" as the club if you are not affiliated with a specific 4-H Club already. Choose a project subject area that relates to your focus in 4-H or a topic you are interested in.
N.C. Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity provider. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, N.C. Cooperative Extension will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Please direct accommodation requests to: Lisa Ortiz, lortiz2@ncsu.edu, 828-465-8240. Requests can be served more effectively if notice is provided at least 10 days before the event.