Extension spring break camps to focus on meat science, STEM, cooking and more
March 6, 2026
By Rebekah Hall
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Extension to offer spring break day camps in seven Arkansas counties
- Camps to offer culinary competitions, tours of local farms, more
- Camps to take place in March, April
(1,664 words)
Download county day camp flyers
LITTLE ROCK — Whether touring local meat processing facilities, attending livestock sales, foraging for edible plants or sharpening their culinary skills, Arkansas youth will have the chance to engage in hands-on learning this spring break.
Seven Cooperative Extension Service county offices will offer a variety of themed day camps for Arkansas 4-H members and the public during March and April.
Several of the day camps are open to the general public, while others are only available to active Arkansas 4-H members. Arkansas youth can join 4-H at any time by signing up in the Arkansas 4-H enrollment system, ZSuite. Whether joining 4-H or not, participants will need to create a ZSuite household account to register for most of the spring break camps.
Crittenden County Dutch Oven Cooking Day Camp
When: April 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: 116 Center St., Marion, Arkansas
Who: Open to the public for youth ages 5-19
Cost: $20
Registration info: Register through ZSuite under the Crittenden County events tab
by March 26.
Youth will practice cooking with a Dutch oven over an open fire. Ali Salisbury, Crittenden County extension 4-H agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the county hosted a Dutch oven cooking camp in the past, and that it was a “huge hit.”
Lunch will be provided. Participants must wear closed-toed shoes.
“Dutch oven cooking is important to teach youth because it helps them build confidence in a kitchen setting while also learning about fire safety,” Salisbury said. “At our Crittenden County day camps, we always have fun and make plenty of messes that are educational and centered around skill-building.”
Johnson County Stay Beefy Spring Break Tour
When: March 24, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: Beginning at Johnson County Extension office, 129 W. Sevier St., Clarksville,
Arkansas
Who: Open to the public for youth ages 5-19, but youth under 9 years old will need
adult chaperone
Cost: There is no cost to attend.
Registration: Deadline to register is March 17. 4-H members must be signed into ZSuite
to register online, and non-4-H members should also register on ZSuite.
The tour is limited to 20 spots and is currently full, but Jeanie Rowbotham, Johnson County extension 4-H agent for the Division of Agriculture, said a waitlist is available.
After kicking off the day with lunch at the Johnson County Extension office, participants will visit a local cow/calf operation, then go to a controlled feeding operation. From there, the group will tour a meat processing facility in nearby Logan County, where they will cut steaks for dinner. The youth will end the day at Sweet Treats, a local restaurant, where they will learn to cook their steaks. Rowbotham said she will also lead participants in a lesson about table etiquette and dining manners.
“I think it’s so important for kids to know where their food comes from and how to safely prepare it,” Rowbotham said. “It just makes them better consumers overall. And who knows — maybe this will spark something that these kids really enjoy doing, and we could have some future meat scientists.”
Johnson and Pope Counties 4-H BBQ Broiler Workshop
When: March 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Brown Hall at Arkansas Tech University, located at 105 W. O St. in Russellville,
AR
Cost: There is no cost to attend.
Registration: The deadline to register is March 23, and participants must be logged
into ZSuite to register online.
Who: The workshop is only open to 4-H members, ages 5-19.
Rowbotham said she will lead the workshop alongside Crystal Ahrens-Rouillier, a Johnson County 4-H club leader and assistant professor of animal and meat science at Arkansas Tech University. Participants will learn about the 4-H State Turkey and Chicken Barbecue Contests and discuss food safety for chicken and turkey preparation. Ahrens-Rouillier will then lead a cooking demonstration, showing participants how to safely light a charcoal grill and cook the poultry before the group gets to taste the results.
“You may think the barbecue competition is just a contest, but you’re learning how to get a cheap source of protein at the store, how to prepare that meat and the food safety behind it,” Rowbotham said. “There’s so many great life skills.”
Logan County Meats Day Camp
When: March 23, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Logan County Fairgrounds at 540 Airport Industrial Road in Paris, Arkansas
Cost: $10
Registration: The deadline to register is March 18 at 4:30 p.m. Participants must
register on ZSuite.
Who: The camp is only open to 4-H members, ages 8-13.
Sarah Enoch, Logan County extension and 4-H agent, said this is the first year the county has hosted the day camp for younger 4-H members. Enoch said participants will learn about where their meat comes from, the parts of an animal, cook and taste test different foods, and more.
Logan County Meats Tour
When: March 25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Beginning at Daily Meats Processing, 1689 AR-10 in Booneville, Arkansas
Cost: There is no cost to attend.
Registration: Participants must register by March 18 at 4:30 p.m. on ZSuite.
Who: The tour is only open to 4-H members, ages 14-19.
Youth will start the tour at Daily Meats Processing in Booneville, where they will take a tour of the processing facility. Participants will then head to the County Line Sale Barn in Ratcliff for lunch and attend a sale beginning at 1 p.m. They will conclude the day at a local farm.
Enoch said livestock is by far the most popular 4-H project in Logan County, and the spring break Meat Tour will give youth an opportunity to follow meat through its full journey.
“A lot of the kids don’t know about what happens to your meat after it leaves the pasture,” Enoch said. “If they’re going to be involved in animal science, they need to know about more than just raising livestock for the fairs.
“It’s important for them to know about the meat industry and all the careers available,” she said. “This gives them a chance to do a deep dive.”
In between the meat-themed camps, Logan County will also offer a chance for 4-H members to try their hand at foraging.
Logan County Foraging Workshop
When: March 24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: 467 Goff Road in Booneville, Arkansas
Cost: There is no cost to attend.
Registration: Participants must register on ZSuite by March 18 at 4:30 p.m.
Who: The workshop is only open to 4-H members, ages 5-19.
Roanna Wilson, extension program technician for 4-H and youth development, will teach participants about wild edible plants. Youth will forage ingredients for wild pizza, pine needle tea and muscadine ice cream.
“We’ll have a nature hike while we do some foraging and end with cooking a light lunch with what we find,” Enoch said.
Madison County 4-H Cooking School and Competition
When: March 24-25, followed by a cooking competition on March 26.
Where: Madison County Extension office at 222 N. Gaskill St. in Huntsville, Arkansas
Cost: There is no cost to attend.
Registration: Participants must register on ZSuite by March 20.
Who: The camp is only open to 4-H members, ages 8-18.
Over three days on spring break, Madison County 4-H’ers will have the chance to practice their culinary skills and compete to qualify for their District Food Challenge. Winners at the District Food Challenge will go on to compete at the statewide Arkansas 4-H Food Challenge in August.
“By having the cooking school a couple days prior to the Chopped competition, it allows our members to get comfortable in the kitchen, learn skills, learn food safety and practice some fun recipes,” said Caramie Edwards, Madison County extension staff chair.
“I think it is very important for youth to learn cooking skills,” Edwards said. “So many of our kids spend time alone at home, and by having some of these skills, they can make nutritious snacks — and even meals — for themselves instead of resorting to less healthy options.
“These skills will follow them into adulthood, and building knowledge and confidence in this area is important in youth development,” she said.
Mississippi County Wildlife Camp
When: March 24-25, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. each day
Where: Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge, located at 2274 Highway 18 in Manila, Arkansas
Cost: $5
Registration: To register, contact the Mississippi County Extension office at 870-563-0236
or stop by the office at 3137 West Keiser Ave. in Osceola, Arkansas.
Who: Open to the public for youth ages 8-12
Kamella Neeley, Mississippi County extension 4-H agent, said she has received interest in wildlife education and outdoor skills from 4-H members and their families.
“We are so excited to explore wildlife in Arkansas through this day camp,” Neeley said. “Youth will learn how to identify wildlife through their furs, bones and tracks, identify insects and get their feet wet making a pond habitat and exploring different macro- and microorganisms. Each day will have fun, nature-inspired activities.”
Yell County Lego STEM camp
When: March 26, 10 a.m.-2:30 pm.
Where: Yell County Extension office, 1002 E. 8th St., Danville, Arkansas
Cost: There is no cost to attend.
Registration: Register by calling the Yell County Extension office at 479-495-2216.
Who: The camp is only open to 4-H members, ages 5-19.
Belle Craig, Yell County extension 4-H and family and consumer sciences agent, said the idea grew from conversations with 4-H’ers and their families, who were interested in more hands-on STEM opportunities.
“We’ve seen strong interest in robotics, engineering challenges and problem-solving activities, so offering a camp centered around Lego-based learning felt like a natural fit,” Craig said. “Legos are familiar and fun, but they also provide an excellent platform for teaching real-world STEM concepts in an engaging way.”
STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — helps 4-H youth build critical thinking skills, confidence and resilience, Craig said.
“STEM challenges them to experiment, make mistakes and try again,” she said. “It also exposes them to career pathways they may not have considered before.”
Visit the Arkansas 4-H website to learn more about programs and events, or contact your local county agent.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact Debbie Nistler at 501-671-2111 as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
501-671-2061