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Youth Development

Sonoma County 4-H Youth are famous!  
See our "Teen Face", Victoria Hamilton, as featured in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat: http://tinyurl.com/4lmvyt  
Read an editoral penned by Cierra Warner: 
http://tinyurl.com/Cierra-Warner 
 

4-H Clubs are made up of youth and adults who plan, implement, and evaluate an annual plan of programs, projects, and activities. Youth officers lead the clubs under the guidance of an adult community club leader.

The clubs meet monthly and provide a forum for organizing events and project activities for youth members. Parents and adult volunteers lead projects in a wide range of learning-by-doing interest areas. Project Based Learning curriculum are described for the following project areas:

  • Animal Sciences (Small and Large)
  • Arts & Leisure
  • Consumer Sciences
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Personal & Social Development
  • Plant Sciences
  • Resource Sciences
  • Other Activities include: 
             Windsor Bloco Drum and Dance

4-H clubs are community affairs that bring together youth and adults to play, share, and learn together. Clubs develop projects, activities and events promoting leadership, citizenship, and community service. Local, state and national conferences support teen and adult volunteer development in these areas.

Club Membership is for all youth from kindergarten through the 12th grade. In 4-H you will meet new people from your community, from other areas of your county, and even from other states. The fees are minimal and cover accident insurance and some management fees. Different projects will need different supplies and some will have other expenses.

What is 4-H?
Sonoma County 4-H Clubs are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension and State 4-H Youth Development Program. 4-H is a dynamic, changing organization evolving to meet the needs of youth in a changing society and world.

The 4-H program was established in Sonoma County in 1926 to help provide clubs for rural youth. It was designed to teach better home economics and agricultural techniques, and to foster character development and good citizenship.

The program has slowly expanded to include urban and suburban youth. Today the national program has nearly 5 million youth involved in clubs, after school programs, day camps, school enrichment programs, and in other delivery methods addressing the needs of our changing society. All of these methods utilize project based learning to assist youth with life skills development.

The Cooperative Extension under the University of California's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources administers the 4-H program. Sonoma County Cooperative Extension is a cooperative program of the University, Sonoma County, and the US Department of Agriculture.

4-H Mission, Purpose, and Goals
Whether youth participate in clubs, after school programs, day camps, or in other program settings, the 4-H mission, purpose, and goals remain the same... to help youth develop to their full potential!

4-H Mission
bulletThe  4-H mission is to "engage youth in reaching their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development."

4-H Purpose
The purpose of 4-H is to:
   Provide youth with learn-by-doing educational experiences.
bullet  Strengthen families and communities.
bullet  Foster leadership and volunteerism in youth and adults.
bullet  Use research-based knowledge from the land-grant university system

4-H Club Goals
The goals of 4-H are to help young people:
  bulletDevelop skills that benefit youth throughout life.
bullet  Acquire knowledge and skills and explore careers.
bullet  Develop initiative and assume responsibility.
bullet  Achieve satisfaction from work and accomplishments.
bullet  Develop leadership and be of service to others.
bullet  Choose from alternatives and plan satisfying lives.
bullet  Develop the ability to live and work cooperatively with others.
bullet  Develop positive self images.