Baltimore County 4-H

WHAT IS 4-H?

4-H involves youth in self-determined, hands-on learning activities such as workforce skills, citizenship, public speaking and other local 4-H program areas.Youth use their own learning styles and participate at their own pace in a wide variety of projects and activities.

Over 5.6 million youth, ages 5-18, participate in 4-H each year, to become self-motivated, productive, and contributing citizens. In 4-H, kids develop relationships that inspire people to voluntarily help themselves and others as they interact with caring adults and peers.

4-H Has a 100 year tradition of voluntary action through strong public-private partnerships at federal, state and community levels. Local volunteer leaders partner with county Extension staff to provide direct leadership and educational support to young people in suburban, urban and rural communities.

4-H is part of the Youth Development program of the Cooperative Extension System, which includes the state land-grant universities, county Extension offices, and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. County Extension staff work with land-grant university researchers and educators, who are up-to-date about youth development and subject areas like the environment, science, technology and entrepreneurship.

4-H provides an inclusive environment which provides a sense of belonging, friendliness, safety and comfort.

MISSION
The Maryland 4-H Youth Development Program provides a supportive setting for all youth to reach their fullest potential. Youth learn beneficial cognitive and life skills through community-focused, research-based experiental educational programs. Achievement of this mission will create competent, caring, responsible individuals.

As part of the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, University of Maryland, College Park, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the Maryland 4-H Youth Development Program contributes to the Extension mission of educating citizens to apply practical, research-based knowledge to critical issues facing individuals, families,communities, the State and our global partners.