4-H Program

"Head-Heart-Hands-Health" Whether youth participate in clubs, after school programs, day camps or in other program settings, the 4-H Youth Development Program's mission and goals remain the same... to help youth develop to their full potential!  4-H Youth Development is a nonformal educational youth program, conducted by the University of California Cooperative Extension. The purpose of 4-H Youth Development is to help diverse young people discover and develop their potential and grow into competent, contributing and caring citizens. Learn by doing activities, youth-adult partnerships and research-based educational programs help young people enhance their leadership abilities and develop a wide range of other life skills.  WHY: leadership/citizenship development; life skills education; strengthening youth-families-communities; advancing the field of youth development HOW: experiential education ("learn by doing"); bridging research and practice; building partnerships for programming and funding; cross-age learning and teaching; youth-adult partnerships WHERE: school enrichment programs; community clubs; special interest projects and programs; school-aged child care; camp experiences; independent study; distance learning.