Shelton Leadership Opportunity

 

Are you passionate about making North Carolina a better place? The Red Hat Shelton Challenge at the Shelton Leadership Center helps high school students like you build skills and confidence to make positive changes in their communities by leading with their values.

During the program, you'll live on campus for a week, be part of an engaged community, and participate in activities designed to teach values-based leadership skills, such as ethical decision-making, social responsibility, effective communication, and more. Are you up for the Challenge?

The Priority Application Deadline is February 15, 2026. Applying by the priority deadline increases the likelihood of both admission and scholarship. 

2026 Red Hat Shelton Challenge Dates 

Challenge 1: Sunday, June 14 - Friday, June 19

Challenge 2: Saturday, June 27 - Thursday, July 2

Challenge 3: Sunday, July 12 - Friday, July 17

Scholarships Available

Scholarships for the Shelton Challenge are available and can be applied for through the main program application. 1 in 3 students who attend the Shelton Challenge receive a needs-based scholarship.  

Upcoming Virtual Info Session

Virtual info sessions for prospective students and families will be held on January 15 at 6:30 p.m. EST and on February 4th at 6:30 p.m. EST. Register to attend the info session here.

Have questions about the Shelton Challenge? 

Reach out to us at sheltonchallenge@ncsu.edu.

Learn more and apply now!

4-H Volunteers-New Training Opportunity

 

BIWEEKLY UPDATE | JANUARY 2026 NLT Registration Closing Soon! Kendra Scott JMG Fundraiser Seed Your Future Professional Development Conferences 2026 JMG Speaker Announcements Enroll Your JMG Students in 2026! ONLY 10 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER FOR THE 2026 JMG NLT! Registration closes FEBRUARY 9TH! Who should attend? This dynamic, virtual & interactive training conference will equip teachers (public, private, charter), nutrition services, librarians, school district admin, Extension faculty/staff/volunteers, homeschool teachers/collaboratives, Farm to School, Farm Bureau, AmeriCorps, and other youth garden support organizations to support teachers/leaders' implementation of Junior Master Gardener curricula AND to grow sustainable school & youth garden-based programs. Why should I register? The 2026 JMG NLT will have BRAND NEW sessions, presenters, topics, and school field trips!! Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity!! The 2026 JMG NLT Conference Tracks include: TRACK 1: JMG Garden-Based Curriculum Options TRACK 2: Game-changing AI & Garden Tech for Your Garden Classroom TRACK 3: Cultivating Garden-based Literature Connections with Students TRACK 4: Growing Sustainability in Your School/Youth Gardening Program $85 Registration Gift Includes: -Access to ALL General & Concurrent Sessions -4 interesting & impactful conference tracks -Live Door Prize Giveaways at EVERY Session -An entire track of HANDS-ON curriculum sessions! -26 CPE/Professional Development Hours Awarded -Access to ALL Conference Recordings for 4 Months After Conference Click HERE to register for the 2026 Virtual JMG NLT Conference! ONLY 10 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER! Don't miss out!! Kendra Scott & Junior Master Gardener Program Giveback Campaign Starts February 10th! Get a special gift for a special someone! Kendra Scott is partnering with us for an online-only giveback event. Steps for how to use the code are below! ***Code not limited by location*** WHEN: Feb. 10 @ 12:00 AM - Feb. 20 @ 11:59 PM (CST) 20% of purchases made using the code GIVEBACK-JMGKIDS2026 will be donated to support the Junior Master Gardener program! *Not restricted to Valentine's Day Collection* Kendra Scott Website Don't miss this immersive Seed Your Future Professional Development Training for High School Educators! Seed Your Future is seeking 30 high school floriculture and horticulture educators for an expenses-paid, immersive professional development experience (a $1,900+ value!) designed to strengthen your confidence across all segments of the green industries. This hands-on learning journey, called "Seed to STEM", hosted by Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania from June 14-18, 2026, equips you with the knowledge, resources, and industry insight needed to seamlessly integrate career exploration, pathways, and real-world applications into your curriculum. Through direct engagement with industry professionals, dynamic classroom resources, and collaborative learning with peers nationwide, you’ll gain the clarity and confidence to help students better understand their options by empowering them to make informed decisions about college, careers, and their future in horticulture and floriculture. Click here to apply for the Seed Your Future Educator Professional Development Conference! 2026 JMG NLT Speakers: Anali Vidana, Lauren Ward, Valerie Bang-Jensen & Dr. Azadeah Alizadeh  Lightning Round Spotlight!  Get ready to meet an educator who brings learning to life—literally. With a passion for kids, community, and the magic of growing things, she turns every garden bed into a doorway to confidence, curiosity, and connection.  Anali Vidana is a dedicated educator and Master Gardener with over a decade of teaching experience. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, she combines her passion for education with her love for gardening to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences for her students. Anali’s mission is to help children develop healthier eating habits, strengthen their English language skills, and master academic concepts through the vibrant, living classroom of the garden.   Breakout Session Speaker Spotlight! Ready to see how the outdoors can transform the way children read, think, and learn?  Valerie Bang-Jensen is a literacy consultant for schools, libraries, and outdoor spaces. She earned her A.B. at Smith College, and her MA and Ed.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University. After teaching in K-6 schools, she was a Professor of Education at Saint Michael's College for 23 years, teaching literacy methods and children's literature courses. She loves serving on the Vermont State Library’s Red Clover committee. Her most recent book is Literacy Moves Outdoors: Authentic Learning Approaches for Any Environment.  Breakout Session Speaker Spotlight! Get ready to dive into the buzzing world of bees with a speaker who has spent over a decade exploring, researching, and teaching everything about these incredible pollinators. If you love insects, agriculture, or the magic of natural systems — this session is made for you!  Lauren Ward is an expert on bees. She earned a master’s degree in Entomology from Texas A&M University and has over ten years of experience in honey bee research, education, and practical beekeeping. Lauren has had a lifelong interest in insects, agriculture, and natural systems.  Breakout Session Speaker Spotlight!  Get ready to learn from a scientist who’s turning data, soil, and water into smarter growing decisions! From cutting-edge crop sensors to hands-on field trials, she brings powerful insights that help growers and educators understand what plants really need to thrive.  Alizadeh brings extensive experience in agricultural field trials, focusing on irrigation water optimization, soil quality and plant wellness. Before joining Extension, she was a plant research scientist with Upterra, a company specializing in agricultural water management equipment, where she evaluated soil quality and studied the effects of water molecules on plant performance. Click HERE to learn more about the 2026 JMG NLT Speakers! Don't forget to enroll your students for FREE in the JMG program! Attention JMG Teachers and Leaders: Group Enrollment for the Junior Master Gardener Program is OPEN for the 2025-2026 School Year!!! As a reminder, JMG group enrollment does NOT roll over from year to year, so groups must enroll or reenroll their students each year to be eligible for JMG certifications and other recognition! JMG Enrollment Steps: Type in jmgkids.us Click the “Enroll” Tab. Click the Orange “Register” Button. Login to Your Existing Account or Set Up Your Profile.  Enroll Your JMG Group for Free! Click here to enroll or reenroll your JMG students for FREE for the 2025-2026 School Year!!! Junior Master Gardener Program | juniormastergardener@gmail.com CONNECT WITH US: