Sparks are screen-free, learner-run STEAM kits that come ready to go straight out of the box. Every kit includes its own guide, so 4-H educators, staff and volunteers can lead without prep, and young people leave with something they built and re-engineered themselves.
Why Sparks fit 4-H clubs and camps, what we learned in our 2025 pilot, the Sparks educators chose most, and a free sample for your team.
See Sparks for 4-H programsExplore a white-label or exclusive 4-H Sparks line, built on what 4-H educators already tested and liked.
Explore a 4-H Sparks lineA Spark gives a club meeting, camp session or after-school workshop a complete hands-on hour. Young people build a working project, test it, then take it apart and re-engineer it so theirs is different from anyone else’s.
Each Spark comes with an illustrated guide, plus videos and slide decks in our educator guides, so a volunteer who has never seen the kit can pick up the box and start. Sparks are screen-free and work in a meeting room, a classroom or a camp pavilion.
20% off for 4‑H educators - use code 4HSparks at checkout.
In early 2025, FutureMakers ran a pilot with National 4-H Council’s Shop 4-H. 4-H educators at about eight county sites each received two free class packs to use with their young people, and their feedback was mostly positive.
Participating sites included:
After the pilot, University of Maryland Extension in Allegany County took Electric Vehicles to more schools.
“I could grab the box and start teaching without having used any of the background resources, other than clicking on the slide show so that I had talking points for the kids to follow along. All in all, it was a lot of fun!”
Build a battery-powered car with a motor and a simple circuit, then iterate to make it go faster, straighter or farther.
Whimsical machines that move, scribble and draw. Small changes make big differences in how each bot performs.
Explore lines, shapes and forms to engineer structures that reach the ceiling, solo or with partners.
A playful claw powered by pneumatics that opens, closes, picks up and lets go.
Design and build unique vehicles that zoom on a spring-driven motor, exploring stored and released energy.
Browse the full Spark Catalogue for more projects across grades and concepts.
Open the catalogue
For 10 learners. Ten individually packaged kits, great for a club meeting or a small workshop.
For 25 learners. Bulk-packed materials for a camp group, classroom or larger program.
20% off for 4‑H educators - use code 4HSparks at checkout.
Sparks are made in Baltimore, Maryland. County offices can buy directly from FutureMakers, and we accept purchasing cards and purchase orders.
Request a free sample Spark, try it with your staff, volunteers or young people, then decide what fits your programs.
Prefer email? Write to sales@futuremakers.fun with the subject line “Sample please!”
For Shop 4-H, National 4-H Council and other 4-H partners, we’d like to explore a white-label or exclusive 4-H Sparks line: hands-on STEAM projects your network can offer clubs, camps and county programs.
Tell us what your network needs, and we’ll shape the line together.
Matt Barinholtz, CEO, FutureMakers
Answered, in plain English.
What ages are Sparks for?
Sparks are designed for learners in PK–8th grade. Each Spark lists its recommended grade levels in our catalogue.
Do they come individually packed or in bulk?
Both. A Small Group Pack has 10 individually packaged kits. A Class Pack has bulk-packed materials for 25 learners.
Can volunteers lead Sparks without training?
Yes. Every Spark includes an illustrated guide, and our educator guides add videos, slide decks and tips so adults can prepare quickly and lead with confidence.
Can our county office buy directly?
Yes. County offices can buy directly from FutureMakers in our shop. Use code 4HSparks for 20% off.
Do you accept purchasing cards and purchase orders?
Yes, we accept both. Use your purchasing card in our shop, or create an instant quote to attach to your purchase order. If you need an invoice, email us.
We’re tax-exempt. How do you handle that?
You can register as tax exempt in our store. Submit your paperwork here.
Where are Sparks made?
In Baltimore, Maryland.