Cooperative Extension

4-H & Youth Development

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About the UDC 4-H Program

Download the "The 4-H's" Brochure by clicking here (requires the free Adobe Reader, which you can download by clicking 1)

UDC 4-H Youth Development Logo



About UDC 4-H

4-H is an educational organization for boys and girls who are at least five years of age and have not passed their 19th birthday by January 1.
It is open to all regardless of race, color, sex, handicap, religion, age, or national origin.

 

4-H Youth Development

4-H Youth Development is Cooperative Extension's non-formal educational program for young people. The program combines the cooperative efforts of youth, volunteer leaders, state land grant universities, federal, state, local governments, and the US Department of Agriculture. The goal of the program is to assist young people in developing knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, responsible, productive citizens, and contributing members of society. Volunteers are essential to the successful delivery of 4-H programs. 4-H serves youth in a variety of methods:

  • Organized 4-H Clubs (click here to see a list)
  • 4-H School Enrichment Programs
  • 4-H Special Interest Groups
  • 4-H Individual Study Programs
  • 4-H Instructional TV Programs
  • 4-H Camping
  • 4-H Projects
  • Hands-on Learning
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The 4-H's...

  • Head: Clearer thinking and decision making. Knowledge useful throughout life.
  • Heart: Greater loyalty, strong personal values, positive self concept, concern for others.
  • Hands: Larger service, workforce preparedness, useful skills, science and technology literacy.
  • Health: Better living, healthy lifestyles.
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The 4-H Mission...

4-H Youth Development Education creates supportive environments for culturally diverse youth and adults to reach their fullest potential. In support of this mission, we will:

  • Provide formal and non-formal community-focused experiential learning.
  • Develop skills that benefit youth throughout life.
  • Foster leadership and volunteerism in youth and adults.
  • Build internal and external partnerships for programming and funding.
  • Strengthen families and communities.
  • Use research-based knowledge and the Land Grant University System.

Achievement of this mission will result in capable, competent, and caring citizens.

The 4-H Vision...

Becoming a world leader in developing youth to become productive citizens and catalysts for positive change to meet the needs of a diverse and changing society.

The 4-H Value Set...

  1. We believe that youth development is the focus of everything we do.
  2. We believe youth-adult partnerships are essential to successful youth development.
  3. We believe that volunteerism is fundamental.
  4. We believe in the strength attained from diversity across the entire range of 4-H experiences.
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The 4-H Pledge

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.

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In cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture, District of Columbia Government Cooperative Extension Service, Agricultural Experiment Station, programs and employment opportunities are available to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.