October 4-10 is National 4-H week, and Orange County is
celebrating the 4-H youth who have made an impact on the community, and are
stepping up to the challenges of a complex and changing world.
As
the youth development program of the Cooperative Extension System of land-grant
universities, 4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization,
empowering six million young people throughout the United States. Through America’s 110 land-grant universities
and its Cooperative Extension System, 4-H reaches every corner of our nation-
from urban neighborhoods to suburban schoolyards to rural farming
communities. With a network of more than
6 million youth, 611,800 volunteers, 3,500 professionals, and more than 25
million alumni, 4-H helps shape youth to move our country and the world forward
in ways that no other youth organization can.
Recent findings from Tufts University's 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that young people
in 4-H are four times more likely to contribute to their communities than youth
not participating in 4-H; two times more likely to be civically active; two
times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to
participate in Science, Engineering, and Computer Technology programs during
out-of-school time; and 4-H girls are two times more likely to take part in
science programs compared to girls in other out-of-school time activities.
Notably, the Tufts research discovered that the structured learning,
encouragement and adult mentoring that 4-H'ers receive play a vital role in
helping them actively contribute to their communities
Also during National 4-H Week, hundreds of
thousands of youth from all around the nation will complete a single, innovative
experiment on 4-H National Youth Science
Day, which will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015. This year’s experiment, Motion Commotion, will be conducted by thousands of kids across the
nation as they learn about physics, speed, and safety. 4-H is dedicated to providing the hands-on
experience in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) to give kids the
life skills they need to succeed today and the career readiness to succeed
tomorrow.
In addition to science, 4-H has a huge focus on
citizenship. 4-H Citizenship programs empower young people
to be well-informed citizens who are actively engaged in their communities and
the world. In Orange, 4-Hers visit the
state capitol each February to visit with local legislators and tell them about
their 4-H experiences. 4-H members have
also participated in Citizenship Washington Focus- a weeklong, national event
held in Washington, D.C., where 4-Hers
are able to strengthen their communication, leadership, and citizenship
skills on a national level and understand
the importance of civic and social responsibilities as they relate to the
development of better citizens and leaders.
The caring support of adult volunteers and mentors
inspires young people in 4-H to work collaboratively, take the lead on their
own projects, and set and achieve goals with confidence.
In Orange County, there are 12 4-H clubs for youth to be
involved in. There are 9 clubs for youth
ages 9-19 and 3 clubs for youth ages 5-8.
Clubs range from Archery, Goats, Crazy Pets, Livestock, two horse clubs,
and more! There is no cost to join 4-H,
but there may be fees to participate in some 4-H activities. Save the date! 4-H Camp will be held at
Northern Virginia 4-H Center in Front Royal June 12-16, 2016. In-person camp sign-ups will begin March 30
at the Orange Extension Office.
October is the beginning of the 4-H year, so now
is the perfect time to join and get involved!
