County Agents, Volunteer Leaders and Members from District 7 look forward to hosting you March 27-39th, 2026 in Columbus, MT. Montana 4-H Rec Lab is open to youth 13 years of age or older as of October 1, 2025. 
 
What is Rec Lab? “Rec Lab” stands for Recreation Lab and means that everything at this Montana 4-H state event is hands-on and fun! This event provides an opportunity for youth to enhance their leadership, communication and team building skills in an action-packed and interactive setting. Rec Lab programming is designed to provide participants with tips and tricks for being a better club, camp and community leader.  
 
Below you will find all the information needed to register. If you have any questions though, please do not hesitate to contact us! We are excited to host you all! 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION 

Registration will be completed using Zsuite. Enrolled members and volunteers can access the registration by clicking on events on the left sidebar. The event will only be visible to eligible members (age). 
 
  • $110.00 Registration Fee February 10 to March 13 
Registration includes lodging, snacks, meals, t-shirts, and exciting speakers. 
During registration, participants will be asked to indicate their workshop choice. Many of the workshops have a limited number of participants and will be filled on a first come, first-serve basis.  The workshops they choose during registration are the workshops they will go to at the event. Workshop descriptions can be found here.// WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS // 
 
Cancellation Policy:
Please email Gallatin County 4-H if you intend to cancel. DO NOT SIMPLY CHANGE STATUS TO "Canceled" in Zsuite.
  • Full refund before March 13 
  • 1/2 refund March 14 to March 21 
  • NO REFUNDS AFTER MARCH 21 (1 week before event) 
  • Full refund for cancellations due to medical or emergency minus cost for your t-shirt 

REGISTRATION CHECKLIST 

  • Each youth and adult participant registered in Zsuite. 
  • Once member/volunteer/external staff register you can view their registration on your dashboard. 
  • Each participant must be approved at the county level.  
  • Participants should pay the county whatever cost the county requires. They can do this online after their registration as been approved.  
  • Zsuite Help sheet that explains approval and payment in more detail.  
  • Registration fee $100 per participant . One check made payable to “Yellowstone County4-H” for all participant fees. 
  • Waivers are completed in Zsuite. NO PAPER WAIVERS. Enrolled 4-H members and will be asked to confirm their medical waiver. Volunteers and MSU Extension staff will need to complete the medical authorization waiver during registration. 
  • Mail payment to: 
Yellowstone County 4-H
2320 3rd Ave N
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 256-2828
 

REGISTERING MSU EMPLOYEES 

If MSU Extension staff are serving as a chaperone for this event they should not be registered as a certified volunteer.  To register an MSU Extension or county employee please use the ink sent in email on 2/6/2025 with subject "Montana 4-H RecLab Statewide event". 
Please note, make sure you are logged out of your county admin profile BEFORE CLICKING THE LINK. Please select “volunteer” (this means adult) from the “type” drop down and continue the registration. Later on in the form you will be asked to select MSU Extension staff as your chaperone type.  You will also be asked to complete the health and medical authorization waiver. 
Do NOTuse this link to register members or volunteers. Members and volunteers should login to their zsuite profile to register.  
 
ALL ADULT CHAPERONES THAT ARE NOT MSU EXTENSION EMPLOYEES MUST BE CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS.  
Do not use this link to register members or volunteers. Members and volunteers should login to their zsuite profile to register.  

LODGING 

The event has a camp feel because everything will take place in one location; Columbus High School. Participantsts will bring air mattresses and sleeping bags to sleep on the gym floor and attend workshops all together in the school and join lots of social and fun activities. 
 
If your delegation does not wish to stay at the school, they will be responsible for making their own lodging arrangements at their own cost. Please remember youth participants need be accompanied by an adult chaperone when staying at the school or in a hotel.  Youth and adult chaperones cannot share the same hotel room. Please refer to state event guidelines for more chaperone information. 
 
All participants will need to bring: 
  • Sleeping bag, Air mattress/pad, Pillow, Towel, and other personal items 
  • There are locker room bathroom facilities and public style showers. There will be an adult only private shower facility available. 
Please contact the yellowstone County Extension Office (406) 256-2828 or email brandy.butler@montana.edu if you have any questions about registering for the 2026 Rec Lab or require any accommodations for this event.