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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. 

Community Club meetings return fall of 2023!

  • Charleston Explorers
    Meets once a month on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the Charleston downtown library (123 Capitol Street) in room 311A. Contact Jocelyn at jocelyn.crawford@mail.wvu.edu with questions. First meeting is October 4.
  • Elk Valley Shamrocks
    Meets the first Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. at Jarrett Memorial United Methodist Church (19 Jarrett St, Elkview). Contact club leader Julie at jcfacemire@yahoo.com with questions. First meeting is October 1.
  • Kanawha County Teen Leaders
    The teen leaders will be meeting four times during the club year:
    • Saturday, October 28, 9 a.m. to noon at Camp Virgil Tate
    • Friday, December 8, 5-8 p.m. at Camp Virgil Tate
    • Friday, February 23, 5-8 p.m. at the Extension office
    • Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m. to noon at Camp Virgil Tate
      Contact Jocelyn at jocelyn.crawford@mail.wvu.edu with questions. 
  • Nitro Nightcrawlers
    Meets once a month on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at West Sattes Community Center (234 Lee Avenue, Valentine Cir, Nitro). Contact Jocelyn at jocelyn.crawford@mail.wvu.edu with questions. First meeting is October 18. 
  • Riverside-Area Club
    Meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Riverside library (1 Warrior Way, Quincy, WV). Contact Cameron at cameron.waggoner@mail.wvu.edu with questions. First meeting is October 12.

School-Based 4-H Clubs
Afterschool 4-H clubs will be held at Bridgeview Elementary School and Sharon Dawes Elementary School for students who attend those schools. Contact the school or Jocelyn at jocelyn.crawford@mail.wvu.edu for more information. 

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.

Save the date!

Kanawha County 4-H Camp will be June 3-7, 2024


Camp Virgil Tate 4-H Fair will be July 19-20, 2024


Recent WV 4-H News

It Pays to BEE a Writer: State 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest

Honeybee on red clover

West Virginia 4-H is excited to announce the 2024 State 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest!

The topic for this 750-1000 word essay is Varietal Honeys.

Read It Pays to BEE a Writer: State 4-H Beekeeping Essay Contest

Ten My Hands to Larger Service Mini-Grants awarded in 2024

Ten 4-H teen leaders and their teams have pledged their hands to larger service in the coming months as they implement the service projects outlined in their winning mini-grant applications. The West Virginia 4-H All Stars have committed $2,000 to support the ten mini-grants to enhance communities in Berkeley, Harrison, Monongalia, Morgan, Ohio, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, and Randolph counties.

Cooper Knott and the Scrabble Scramblers 4-H Club in Berkeley County plan to update athletic equipment at the Camp Frame. This facility attracts the tri-county community for year-round social, educational, and recreational gatherings. The basketball hoop and backboard at the facility are broken and need to be replaced for the facility users to enjoy for years to come.

Harrison County 4-H members Hope Woods, Hannah Woods, and Spencer Nolan plan to repurpose old furniture to make a blessing box in their community. Community members can help fill this box with food, warm clothes, hygiene products, and other essentials that those in need can discretely acquire. By repurposing old furniture instead of building a new box, the 4-H members aim to reduce waste and encourage environmental preservation.

Read Ten My Hands to Larger Service Mini-Grants awarded in 2024

2024 My Hands to Larger Service mini-grants available

Youth replacing the floorboards of a porch

For several years the West Virginia 4-H All Stars have generously funded to eleven mini-grants for West Virginia 4-H teens/teen leader groups to assist in the planning and completion of a community service project through the My Hands to Larger Service 4-H Project.

Mini-Grant Application

Read 2024 My Hands to Larger Service mini-grants available

Older WV 4-H News