4-H Vision banner (A world in which youth and adults learn, grow and work together as catalysts for positive change)

About 4-H

4-H is a worldwide youth development program available in every state and over eighty countries. It is open to all youth aged 5 to 19, who want to have fun, learn new skills, and explore the world. In return, youth who participate in 4-H find a supportive environment and opportunities for hands-on or "experiential" learning about things that interest them. They also get what all young people need to succeed in life--the confidence, compassion and connections with caring adults to make contributions to their communities.

Nationally 4-H is a community of 6 million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. The 4-H community also includes 3,500 staff, 518,000 volunteers and 60 million alumni. 4-H'ers participate in fun, hands-on learning activities, supported by the latest research of land-grant universities, that are focused on three areas:

Citizenship - Civic engagement is the broadest mission mandate; it incorporates youth voice, leadership, respect, history, community youth development, SET, and Healthy Lifestyles. Visit the Civic Engagement section of the National 4-H Council's website to learn more about 4-H civic engagement opportunities.

Healthy Lifestyles - "Choose Health" is an initiative of the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program intended to help all of us address childhood obesity. The Healthy Living section of the NYS 4-H website includes project resources, promotional materials, and more!

Science, Engineering and Technology- Kids who participate in science activities outside of the classroom are more likely to be comfortable with science. Visit the National 4-H Council's STEM site for numerous 4-H Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) projects that give families science enrichment opportunities and connect kids to Cornell’s science outreach programs.

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