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Kanawha County 4-H

What is 4-H? 

4-H is one of the largest youth development programs in the United States involving more than 6.5 million young people and 540,000 youth and adult volunteers. The focus is on helping youth learn leadership, citizenship, and life skills by participating in projects and service.

Membership is open to any youth when he/she is in at least 9 years of age and is not older than 21 within the current 4-H year, which runs from October 1 – September 30. The Cloverbud program is open to youths ages 5-7 years of age. On a local level 4-H offers community clubs, specialty clubs, cloverbud clubs, county camp(s), club outings, Achievement Banquet, and more! In 4-H youth socialize, learn, and develop life skills in a safe, educational atmosphere.

Studies show that 4-H members
  • do better in school
  • are more motivated to help others
  • feel safe to try new things
  • achieve a sense of self-esteem
  • develop lasting friendships

Clubs

Clubs are organizations run by 4-H members and volunteer 4-H leaders and are a great way for 4-H'ers to stay involved all year long. Club members hold offices like president, treasurer, secretary, and health officer, among others. Club business, recreation, community service, and special speakers or presentations are all part of regular club meetings. Clubs can be for 4-H'ers in a community, at a school, or centered around a special interest.


General Interest 4-H Clubs Special Interest 4-H Clubs

Camps

4-H summer camp programs focus on positive youth development and provides opportunities to try new experiences in an encouraging environment. At residential camps, campers enjoy a fun-filled five day, four night camp which provides youth the opportunity to meet to new friends, experience fun evening camp fires, and earn skills such as fishing, cooking, art, sports, STEM, and outdoor recreation. 4-H Camp allows youth to develop important life skills like leadership, responsibility, and goal attainment.

At day camps, 4-H'ers and Cloverbuds age 5-12 experience all of the fun of residential camp without the overnight stay.

Kanawha County Older 4-H Camp- CANCELED

Dates:
Ages: 13-21
Location: Camp Virgil Tate


Kanawha County Younger 4-H Camp- CANCELED

Dates:
Ages: 9-13
Location: Camp Virgil Tate


Southern District Horse Camp- CANCELED

Dates:
Ages: 9-21
Location: Camp Virgil Tate

Cloverbud Day Camp- CANCELED

Dates:
Ages: 5-8
Location: Nitro High School


STEM Day Camp- CANCELED

Dates: 
Ages: 9-12
Location: 


Code Day Camp- CANCELED

Dates:
Ages: 11-15
Location: Nitro High School


Kanawha County 4-H Events

No events available at this time.

West Virginia 4-H Events

No events available at this time.

Recent WV 4-H News

October 4-H Updates

Boy in kitchen with a measuring cup of tomatoes, bowls, cutting board, and knife

Youths across the state are invited to participate in 4-H Special Interest (SPIN) clubs hosted by the Eastern Region of West Virginia. There are six different virtual programs lasting 4-6 weeks depending on the topic. Programs are free and offered to all youths in 3rd grade and above.

 “Choose a topic of interest to you then register online through ZSuite.com,” said Margaret Miltenberger, West Virginia University. “All topics will be interactive and taught by West Virginia University Extension 4-H Agents.”

Read October 4-H Updates

Week of August 3 - Energy Express on WVPB

Monday, August 3, 2020, 9:30 a.m.

Make it fly! Join Jennifer Robertson-Honecker, WVU Extension Service STEM Specialist, and her son, Ben, to learn how to make your own helicopter that you can fly at your home. ( For this activity, you will creative items from around your house to build your simple machine.) Want to enter the competition? Visit extension.wvu.edu/stemcare to learn more!

Kerri Carte, Family and Community Development agent will make a yummy cucumber salad. ( For this recipe, you will need light mayonnaise, two cucumbers, two large tomatoes, two strips of bacon, pinch of salt and bibb or leaf lettuce.)

Read Week of August 3 - Energy Express on WVPB

Week of July 6 - Energy Express on WVPB

Monday, July 6, 2020, 9:30 a.m.

What’s that peeping sound? Join Sheldon Owen, WVU Extension Service Wildlife specialist, to learn about frog calls. Then, we'll hop on over for a reading of "Frog in the Bog" with Sheldon’s daughter, Alden.

Baa! Next up, we’ll tour the farm and meet some sheep with WVU Extension Service Agriculture and Natural Resources agents Jody Carpenter and Tasha Harris.

Read Week of July 6 - Energy Express on WVPB

Older WV 4-H News

Member Resources

Camp Staff Volunteer Position Descriptions

Kanawha County 4-H Clubs 2019-2020

  • Science Fun with
    Kitchen Chemistry Countywide Virtual 4-H Club
    Who: All youth ages 9 and up    When: Every Thursday at 6:30 p.m., beginning October 15
    To sign up, email Jocelyn Crawford
  • Earth Science Countywide Cloverbud Club
    Who: All youth ages 5-8
    When: Every Thursday at 5:30 p.m., beginning October 15
    To sign up, email Jocelyn Crawford
  • Plane Janes Girls
    Who Code 4-H Club
    Online through Dec 2020
    Who: Girls in grades 6-12
    When: Every other Wednesday at 6 p.m., beginning October 7
    To sign up, email Jocelyn Crawford
  • 4-H Barn Bums & Cloverbuds
    When: 2nd Sunday of each month at 3 p.m.
    Where: Elk River Community Center
    Email Paula Layne
  • Elk Valley Shamrocks Currently not meeting through Dec 2020
    When: 1st Sunday of each month
    Where: Jarrett Memorial Methodist Church in Elkview
    Lovell and Julie Facemire Email Julie Facemire
  • Kanawha Co. 4-H Teen Leaders Online through Dec 2020
    When: 3rd Tuesday of each month 7-8 p.m.
    Where: Extension Office Email Jocelyn Crawford
  • South Hill Explorers & Cloverbuds Club
    Currently not meeting through Dec 2020
    When: 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
    Where: Elizabeth Memorial Methodist Church
    Email Jocelyn Crawford
  • Alban Red Dragons & Cloverbuds
    Currently not meeting through Dec 2020
    When: Jan-May after school
    Where: Alban Elementary
    Email Jocelyn Crawford
  • Dunbar Corn Club
    On hiatus through Dec 2020
    When: Every other Wednesday beginning October 9
    Where: South Charleston VFW Email Stephanie Gale



To protect the health and safety of our employees and community, many WVU and WVU Extension Service employees are working remotely. While we may not be physically in our brick and mortar offices, we are working hard to assist our fellow West Virginians in all 55 counties. For information about WVU’s efforts, check coronavirus.wvu.edu for more.