4-H

4-H is a worldwide non-formal educational program for youth. Founded in 1902, today 4-H has over 6.6 million members in the United States and many more worldwide. While 4-H has strong roots in agriculture, 4-H is no longer just about cows, vegetables, and home economics. 4-H projects cover topics ranging from astronomy and computers to rocket science, marketing, and many others that youth find interesting. 4-H is not just for youth in rural areas. 4-H programs and 4-H clubs are now found in most urban and suburban areas as well. The basic tenet of 4-H is hands-on-learning -- youth learn best by doing things themselves, with parents and other adults as mentors. 4-H is largely run by kids for kids. Kids run their own meetings, help teach projects, give presentations, raise money, create web sites, and more. 4-H is also all about family and community, with adult volunteers coaching kids, helping with clubs, and providing additional expertise. The 4-H emblem is a green four leaf clover with an H on each leaf representing Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. The 4-H motto is "To Make the Best Better." The 4-H pledge best conveys the spirit of 4-H:

I Pledge
My Head to clearer thinking,
My Heart to greater loyalty,
My Hands to larger service, and
My Health to better living,
For my Club, my Community, my Country, and my World.

In the United States, 4-H is run through a network of partnerships between the government, volunteers, and non-profit organizations. The government provides 4-H resources at national, state, and county levels through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the land grant university system in each state, and the Cooperative Extension Service in each county. Volunteer 4-H Councils at national, state, and county levels provide guidance and expertise to 4-H and are the primary drivers for the 4-H club program. Non-profit 4-H Foundations at national, state, and county levels provide grants and scholarships to the 4-H program through charitable donations. The 4-H program is delivered to youth by both 4-H county Cooperative Extension personnel and by 4-H clubs. A typical 4-H club has 10 to 100 voting youth members and 2 to 30 non-voting adult volunteer leaders.

Sub-Categories:

Web Search for 4-H Organizations Youth People Society - News search for 4-H Organizations Youth People Society - encyclopedia entries for 4-H Organizations Youth People Society