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What
is 4-H?
4-H is
the youth development education program of WSU Extension, which
is conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the
state land grant university (Washington State University), and
your county government. Today 4-H is everywhere--in cities, suburbs,
small towns, and rural communities. 4-H is the largest youth
development organization in the nation. The United States has
more than 5 million members and 600,000 leaders. Around the world,
4-H type clubs now exist in at least 82 countries.
4-H is a "life
skills program". 4-H teaches valuable skills like public speaking,
problem solving, healthy lifestyle choices, and teamwork to youth
through hands-on activities, leadership development and community
involvement.
Why 4-H?
4-H changes lives
by forming lifelong friendships. Kids who share new experiences,
solve problems or tackle tough projects together form unshakable
bonds. These bonds replace the need to become involved in negative
peer associations, such as gangs. Families and youth who participate
in 4-H develop life skills that help them lead productive and satisfying
lives to be confident, contributing, and productive citizens in
their schools, neighborhoods and communities.
Mention 4-H and
many people think of "cows and cooking" and the county
fair. But the 4-H program is much more than that. It is a practical,
"learning by doing" educational program with youth and
adult volunteers working together on 4-H projects and life experiences
in a variety of ways. You can participate in 4-H in many ways - through
organized 4-H clubs, school enrichment, day camps, after-school programs,
special interest or school age care.
Ther are over
60 projects youth members and adult volunteers can become involved
in. Members in 4-H can learn about animals, rocketry, ocmputers,
creative arts, photography, natural resources, healthy foods, clowning,
wood working, and bicycling to name a few possibilities. |
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