BETHEL – Spring is a little over four weeks away, so wouldn’t it be time to look into 4-H and decide if the program is right for you?

4-H (open to any boy or girl ages 7 to 19 and there is no charge to be a member) is the youth development organization of the University of Connecticut’s Cooperative Extension System and its mission is to assist youths in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills and forming attitudes which will enable them to become self directing, productive and contributing members of society.

This mission is carried out through the involvement of volunteers and 4-H program staff who organize and conduct educational and project activities in a community or camp setting. The local Extension System office is located on Stony Hill Road in Bethel.

In 4-H you –

•Set your own goals

•Meet with other youth

•Learn through projects that you choose

•Develop skills and interest areas

•Help plan county and state wide events

•Make a difference in your community

•Have Fun!

Anyone with enthusiasm and a wide range of interests can become involved and work on projects in –

•Animals

•Photography

•Computers

•Martial arts

•Double dutch

•Home arts

•Entomology

•Plants and gardening

•Citizenship

Opportunities available at the local 4-H level include –

•Projects

•Field trips

•Community service

•Public presentations

•Activities

•4-H camp

•Educational programs

•After-school programs

•Clubs

•Correspondence activities

•Independent projects

And at the county level –

•County workshops

•4-H Fair Association

•Leadership Opportunities

•Citizenship Activities foods and nutrition

Now, 4-H isn’t just for kids or young adults. There are also opportunities for adults who enjoy working with children and have a willingness to share their time and talents with the young people of their community.

A 4-H volunteer could –

•Be A Workshop/Special Project Teacher.

•Join an Advisory Group.

•Work with the Local or State 4-H Foundation.

•Be a Camp Volunteer.

•Join Activity and Project Committees.

•Be a Judge/Evaluator.

•Be a Group Project Leader.

•Be a Community Club Leader.

All 4-H volunteers receive –

•Training and Leadership Materials.

•Supervision/Support from Cooperative Extension faculty.

•Recognition for Accomplishments.

And through the involvement of adult volunteers, young people can learn –

•Life Skills

•Goal Setting

•Leadership

•Cooperation

•Decision-Making

•Creative Thinking

•Communication

For more information on 4-H and the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System, call 1-888-FOUR-H-CT, visit the Cooperative Extension System offices on Stony Hill Road, of visit http://www.canr.uconn.edu/ces/fourh/ on the web.

Upcoming events include –

•State 4-H Teen Day, Hartford County Extension Center, 10 am to 4 pm, on February 19.

•State 4-H Sheep Project Clinic, UConn Storrs Campus on February 26.

•Tri-County 4-H Fashion Revue (Hartford, Litchfield Tolland) on March 12.

•National 4-H Conference, Chevy Chase, Maryland, April 1-6.

•State 4-H Day, includes State 4-H Public Speaking Finals, State 4-H Fashion Revue, State 4-H Photography and Art Contest and more, UConn Alumni Center in Storrs, 1 to 4 pm, on April 2.

•Connecticut 4-H Goat Day, UConn, Storrs, Ratcliffe Hicks Arena on April 9.

•State 4-H Citizenship Day, Hartford on April 13.

•State 4-H Equine Contests (tentative), April 22-24.

•New London County 4-H Foundation Auction, April 29-30.

•State 4-H Teen Day, Tolland County Extension Center, 10 am to 4 pm, on May 21.

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