Warren County 4-H Youth Development

Warren County 4-H is the youth development program of The Ohio State University Extension.  Warren County 4-H programs served almost 2100 youth in Warren County in 2007 through the efforts of 585 adult and youth volunteers.  Youth programs available to 4-H members range from livestock clinics and chick embriology to Labo Cultural Exchanges to shooting sports to zany camps at 4-H Camp Graham!  Any Warren County youth who is at least 5 and in kindergarten through the age of 18 is eligible to experience the fun of 4-H programs.

4-H Then and Now

In 1902, A.B. Graham, the father of 4-H, probably never envisioned the program to be quite what it is today!  Warren County 4-H currently involves youth in community clubs and projects, camps, fairs, school enrichment, community service, traffic safety, leadership boards, cultural exchanges, and much more!  Nearly 200 4-H projects are available to older 4-H members while a special program called "Cloverbuds" brings 4-H alive for youth in kindergarten through second grade.  Additionally, the county fair and camping programs continue to be primary channels to positively affect young lives.  With community projects, travel abroad experiences, leadership roles and many other fun activities, 4-H is planting the seeds for success in its youth.

Today the focus of the 4-H program is in five areas.  These areas are: developing marketable skills in youth; encouraging community service and citizenship; building and appreciating diversity; creating sustained relationships with adults; and building volunteer skills and abilities.  4-H is working with many valued partners to reach these important goals for the 21st century.  Without the support of large corporations and many small businesses and individuals, 4-H would not be able to reach so many communities, schools, and families.

A Sampling of 4-H Programs in Warren County

4-H CARTEENS

In 2007, Warren County CARTEENS provided peer-to-peer instruction to 680 first-time juvenile traffic offenders through interactive sessions on seatbelt use, defensive driving, the consequences of road rage, substance abuse and other irresponsible driving choices.  4-H members who present the program on a monthly basis hope to deter second time violations among teen drivers.  The program is a collaborative effort with the Ohio Highway Patrol and the Juvenile Court of Warren County.

4-H Camps

Three camp programs will be conducted by trained teen camp counselors and adult 4-H staff.  Horse Camp is a four day/three night program conducted at the Warren County Fairgrounds for 4-H members taking horse projects.  Artist's Day Camp is open to any Warren County youth with an interest in the arts.  It is held at an area community center for one week each summer.  County 4-H Camp, held in Late July/early August, is a fun-filled adventure for any youth age in grades 3 through 8.  Youth gain skills and knowledge in outdoor adventure, cooking, swimming, shooting safety, recreation, team work, and independent living.

4-H Clinics

Spring Training kicks off a new 4-H club year.  4-H members, volunteer leaders, and parents come together to learn about 4-H projects, activities such as speaking contests and service projects, and other annual events.  Clinics are held for horse enthusiasts on topics such as showmanship, horse health and competitive jumping.  Animal clinics educate 4-H youth on topics such as animal selection, providing the consumer with a safe and wholesome meat product, animal grooming and nutrition. 

Teen Opportunities

4-H youth age 14 and older have the opportunity to compete for 4-H trips, positions and scholarships annually.  Youth may represent the county 4-H program at Sea Camp on Lake Erie, Citizenship Washington Focus in Washington D.C., at the State Conservation Camp at Camp Ohio or as a State 4-H Ambassador.  Additionally 4-H members may compete for $2,550 in local 4-H scholarships and more than $16,000 in state 4-H scholarships.  Many roles exist for the teen member in Warren County's 4-H program.  Serving on the Junior Fairboard, the Food and Fashion Board, working as a camp counselor or as a CARTEENS presenter can provide 4-H teens with life skills for the work place, college and beyond!  Youth from all 88 counties come together each spring for the Ohio 4-H Teen Conference to share a spirit of celebration with their peers, opportunities for exploration and personal development.

Ohio 4-H Volunteer Conference

Bringing together the largest concentration of 4-H adult and youth volunteers ever, Ohio is a leader in 4-H volunteer recruitment, training and recognition.  Statewide more than 24,000 adult volunteers lead 4-H clubs, direct camp corporations owned by 4-H youth, coordinate learning experiences, and mentor youth in caring ways.  Nearly 50 Warren County volunteers participate in the Ohio Volunteer Conference to refresh their skills and knowledge of youth issues and celebrate volunteerism as a way to make our best better.

School Enrichment

Helping teachers provide hands-on learning opportunities in the classroom is another way 4-H curriculum benefits Warren County.  Programs such as Chick Embryology, Tobacco Risk Awareness Program, Breads of the Harvest, Rockets Away!, Weather Together and Fishy Science are just a few of the group 4-H projects teachers can use with their students to help them achieve higher educational standards.  Incubators, bottle rocket launchers, and other supplies can be borrowed from the 4-H office throughout the year.

Community Clubs

Fifty-eight community 4-H clubs exist in Warren County covering virtually every community and township.  Some clubs specialize in providing knowledge for children interested in a particular project: like cooking, public speaking, rabbits, beef or other livestock projects.  In many clubs, one finds great diversity of 4-H project interests from  electricity, first aid, gardening and writing to hamsters, llamas and veterinary science.  Members live in towns, subdivisions and farms!  4-H is NOT just a program for youth interested in agriculture... It's for any child who strives to make his or her best better!

Shooting Sports

With the goal of preventing accidents with firearms, Warren County's 4-H Shooting Sports program was launched in 1998.  Working to teach youth about the dangers of firearms, club members learned about the care and safe use of guns at an indoor range they built for themselves.  Now in their tenth year, with two strong clubs and an expanded club house, 4-H youth are still learning life-saving safety skills with guns, and teaching others about one of the newest 4-H project areas.  Living History has been the most recent addition to the program -- which includes training with archery equipment, muzzle loaders and other firearms.

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