Kanawha County 4-H

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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.

2022-2023 Community Clubs beginning in October

Charleston Explorers & Cloverbuds
Meets once a month on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Charleston downtown library (123 Capitol Street) in room 311A.
Elk Valley Shamrocks
Meets the first Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. at Jarrett Memorial United Methodist Church (19 Jarrett St, Elkview).
Kanawha County Teen Leaders
Meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Kanawha Extension office (directions here) and online over Zoom. Email Jocelyn for the Zoom link.

Nitro Nightcrawlers
Meets the second Sunday of each month at West Sattes Community Center (234 Lee Avenue, Valentine Cir, Nitro).
Elkview Explorers
Meets twice a month at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Pinch (80 St Andrew Lane, Elkview, WV 25071). Email Jocelyn for meeting dates and times.
NEW Riverside-Area Club
Meets once a month at Riverside High School in Quincy (One Warrior Way, Belle, WV 25015). Email Jocelyn for meeting dates and times.
NEW Sharon Dawes Club
Meets one Friday a month at Starting Points Family Resource Center at Sharon Dawes Elementary School. Email Jocelyn for meeting dates and times.

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 All Age 4-H Camp

June 5-9, 2023

Ages 9-21

Camp Virgil Tate

Price TBD

Southern District Horse Camp

June 18-24, 2023

Ages 9-21

Camp Virgil Tate

Price TBD

2023 Camp Registration will open April 1!

Follow the Kanawha Extension Facebook page for updates.

Recent WV 4-H News

Application for National 4-H Congress and Conference

This application is for WV 4-H youth ages 14-19 wanting to attend National 4-H Congress in Atlanta (November 2023) or National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. (March/April 2024). Once your application is submitted a follow-up interview will be scheduled in June 2023.

17 people standing in two rows Deadline to submit your interview is midnight on Monday, May 15th, 2023. Youth accepted to attend Congress or Conference will be attending this event with pre-selected WVU Extension Chaperones. Youth will be attending on their own, family members and 4-H Volunteers will not be eligible to attend. There will be times during these National events when youth will be chaperoned by someone other than the WVU chaperones.

Read Application for National 4-H Congress and Conference

Fall 2022 Regional 4-H Volunteer Training Opportunities

The words 4-H Volunteers and a 4-H clover surrounded by hands reaching out with hearts in the palms

There are 4-H volunteer training opportunities scheduled around the state from late August through early October. A meal and 4-H club ideas (with supplies!) will be provided to each participant.

Volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend these trainings to gain new skills and learn how to restart/start 4-H clubs. This session will provide grab 'n' go training resources and curriculum you can use in working within the 4-H youth program. The training will also focus on building relationships between 4-H volunteers and Extension educators. We are excited to come back together to learn, socialize and recognize our excellent volunteers that support our youth.

Read Fall 2022 Regional 4-H Volunteer Training Opportunities

Excellence in 4-H project work on display at the State Fair of West Virginia 2022

Adult taking a picture of a boy in a 4-H camp backdrop

The public is encouraged to picture themselves in 4-H this year at the State Fair of West Virginia. The stage has been set for kids of all ages to step into a 4-H club meeting or head off to 4-H camp at the 4-H exhibit in the Cecil Underwood Youth building. Thank you to Gold Ribbon poster winner, Hannah Beckner from Gilmer County for inspiring the exhibit theme this year.

Cornbread muffins, collections of leaves, creative 4-H clover displays, and handmade clothing garments and toolboxes line the display stands in the Cecil Underwood Youth Building at the as evidence of 4-H members’ hard work throughout the past year. People attending the State Fair of West Virginia can view these blue-ribbon 4-H project exhibits from August 11 through 20, 2022. Additionally, there are hundreds of exhibits online in the virtual state 4-H exhibit .

Read Excellence in 4-H project work on display at the State Fair of West Virginia 2022

Older WV 4-H News