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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.

All Kanawha County in person residential and day camps for summer 2020 have been canceled due to health and sanitation concerns related to COVID-19.


Check back soon for information about our free virtual 4-H camps happening in June and July!


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

Recent WV 4-H News

4-H Summer Updates

Energy Express is still recruiting children for its summer reading program. While the program will not be meeting in person, it is free. The program runs June 22 - July 31, 2020. It is open to children entering 1st - 6th grade as well as repeat Kindergartners. More information about the program and registration can be found at WVU Energy Express.

If you missed one of our virtual 4-H workshops or wanted to review the activities, you can register to watch archived videos.

Read 4-H Summer Updates

4-H News Update May 24 - 31

West Virginia 4-H is hosting virtual workshops to help youth and their families learn about fun topics and the 4-H program.  We will use the Zoom platform to host these workshops. 

Workshops for the week of May 26 - 29 are:

Join us to learn more about these topics and to have fun. If you enjoy the workshop, we will share information about how you can continue learning about first aid, literacy service projects, trees, and the environment through an at-home 4-H project on the topic.

Read 4-H News Update May 24 - 31

Residential Camps, Fairs & Other Activities/Events in Summer 2020

Read Residential Camps, Fairs & Other Activities/Events in Summer 2020

Older WV 4-H News

Member Resources

Camp Staff Volunteer Position Descriptions

Kanawha County 4-H Clubs 2019-2020

  • 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
    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  When: 3rd Tuesday of each month 7-8 p.m.
    Where: Extension Office Email Jocelyn Crawford
  • South Hill Explorers & Cloverbuds Club 
    When: 1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
    Where: Elizabeth Memorial Methodist Church
    Email Jocelyn Crawford
  • Alban Red Dragons & Cloverbuds
    When: Jan-May after school
    Where: Alban Elementary
    Email Jocelyn Crawford
  • Dunbar Corn Club
    When: Every other Wednesday beginning October 9                      Where: South Charleston VFW    Email Stephanie Gale

Kanawha County Special Interest Clubs 2019-2020

  • Plane Janes  Girls Who Code  4-H Club
    When: Every other Wednesday
    Where: Aerospace Education Laboratory at WVSU
    Email Emma Gardner 
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.