Youth & Family

Virtual 4-H Summer Sparks

West Virginia 4-H will be offering several Summer Sparks Virtual Sessions in the months of June and July.  Each Spark will be a one time 1-hour program. You may sign up any session that ‘sparks’ your interest. Check the full schedule below and picked your Spark Session based on participant’s age.  Session descriptions are below.  All programs will be conducted virtually on Zoom.  Once registration is completed you will receive the Zoom link. 

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

To register go to 4h.zsuite.org. From the main dashboard, select the events tab on the left and use the search bar to look up the Virtual 4-H Summer Sparks. Registration opens on Friday, April 16, 2021.

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Statewide Virtual 4-H Programs for Summer 2021

West Virginia 4-H is excited to announce our Summer 2021 virtual programming experiences that will launch in June. These virtual 4-H Special Interest (SPIN) clubs will focus on different topic areas (Cloverbud, Civic Engagement, Healthy Living, and STEM). The programs will meet daily for five sessions or meet weekly for four sessions. Do not hesitate to register. We anticipate these programs to fill quickly.

These summer 4-H virtual experiences are open to any youths. Be sure to read each program description to determine which age groups are invited to participate. Each program various in audience age range. Some programs are designed for Cloverbuds (any youths with birthdates between October 1, 2012, and June 30, 2015), while others are geared towards youths who will be 9 years old or older by September 30, 2021.

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Teen Discussion Panel on the Pandemic

Youth voices offer unique perspectives, innovative ideas and valuable insights. As West Virginia  continues to move through the pandemic, teens want to know more about issues surrounding the public health crisis – now and in the future. Experts will give young people the “tea” (teen slang for “the scoop”) on a host of topics surrounding the pandemic during a special panel discussion on April 12, 2021, at 4 p.m.

This event is hosted by WVU Extension Service 4-H Youth Development Teen Council, in partnership with West Virginia State University and the West Virginia Joint Interagency Task Force on COVID-19 vaccines. Experts will answer questions from teens on a variety of topics, including the science behind COVID testing, vaccinations, future pandemics, economy implications, education and other issues related to the pandemic. The event will be moderated by members of 4-H’s Teen Council and Collegiate 4-H members from WVU and WVU Tech.

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Final Two Virtual Special Interest (SPIN) Clubs Kick Off in Mid-April

The final spring virtual 4-H Special Interest (SPIN) clubs will start in mid-April in order to wrap up in May prior to our summer 4-H programs. These virtual 4-H SPIN clubs will focus on different topic areas and will last between four to six sessions. Do not hesitate to register.  Many of the SPIN clubs have filled quickly!

These 4-H SPIN clubs are open to 4-H members. Be sure to read each club description to determine which age groups are invited to participate. Each club is a little different.  Some clubs are designed to help 4-H members with their project work, but not all of them.  All youth are welcome to join a SPIN club to learn, no matter their project area!

Some of the 4-H SPIN clubs are free to participants while other clubs do have a small fee.  The clubs with fees will be providing a club kit of supplies for the kids to engage in hands-on activities at home.

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Researchers are seeking 4-H members to participate 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development

Researchers of youth development from Tufts University and Boston College have started a new study examining adolescents’ beliefs, behaviors, and involvement in youth development programs. This study seeks to understand how youth develop in positive ways!

From 2002 to 2012, Professors Richard Lerner and Jacqueline Lerner conducted the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (PYD), a study of thriving across the adolescent years. The findings from the 4-H Study of PYD have been adopted across the nation and the world! With this new study, we aim to find out if the findings from the original study can be applied to current adolescents.

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