Welcome
to the Larimer County 4-H Program!
The
4-H Youth Development movement began more than a hundred years ago
and now includes over 6.5 million members and 540,000 adult volunteers
throughout the United States. Our next member could be you!
Youth
who are eight years of age and have not reached their nineteenth birthday
on or before December 31, 2009, may enroll in 4-H clubs and groups
as a traditional 4-H Member. Youth who are five through seven years
of age on or before December 31, 2009, may enroll in 4-H as a Cloverbud.
Step 1
The first step in becoming a 4-H member is to choose a club that is
right for you. Contact a local 4-H Club Leader to see if there is
room in an existing club near you. If not, several young people with
an adult or two to help them may start a new club. For a list of clubs
in Larimer County, please view the Club
Directory.
Step 2
Find the project that is right for you. There are over 60 different
projects divided into more than 225 divisions. These divisions range
from creative arts, photography, model rocketry, foods, clothing,
gardening, wildlife, woodworking, to dog obedience, small animals,
horses, and livestock. Project costs vary. To see a list of all of
our State and County Projects, visit our Projects
page. You can click on the Clover Guide to learn more about each project,
including estimated costs and length of time committment to complete
the project.
Step 3
The 4-H program is offered at a very nominal annual fee ($45/member)
by Colorado State University Extension in Larimer County. The enrollment
fee covers insurance, monthly newsletters/mailings, and all educational
project manuals. 4-H clubs may also charge minimal club fees. Enrollment
forms for members planning to show/participate in the Larimer County
Fair are due before March 1, 2010; however, to take full advantage
of the 4-H experience, youth are encouraged to enroll in the fall
of the year. Contact the leader of the 4-H club you are interested
in joining, and plan to visit their next club meeting. The organizational
leader of the club will have a 4-H member enrollment form for you
to complete and they must sign the form before it can be turned in
at our office.
Step 4
Have fun! The mission of 4-H is to help children grow into
healthy, productive, and successful adults. This mission is accomplished
through involvement of parents, volunteer leaders, and other adults
who organize and conduct fun educational experiences in community
and family settings.
Stay
involved throughout the year with the Clover Connections Newsletter
and our website, which are both available online for free. They are
both great resources for a first year 4-H family!
As
you can see, Larimer County has a wide variety of clubs to choose
from with so much to offer. If you have any further questions, feel
free to contact Wendy Woerner, Extension Agent, at the Larimer County
Extension Office at (970) 498-6006.
