Youth Development and 4-H
Florida 4-H
4-H is an informal, practical educational program for youth aged 5 through 18. It is the youth development program of Florida Cooperative Extension, a part of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The Florida 4-H Youth Development program uses a learn-by-doing approach to enable youth to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to become competent, caring, and contributing citizens of the world. This mission is accomplished by using the knowledge and resources of the land grant university system, along with the involvement of caring adults (volunteers and staff).
4-H is for all youth, wherever they live—whether on farms, in suburbs, or in cities, from all backgrounds and interests. It reaches both boys and girls through 4-H clubs, special-interest groups and short-term projects, school-age child care, individual and family learning and mentoring, camping, and school enrichment (in-school 4-H programs). Subject matter covered in 4-H is as diverse as the youth involved including contemporary projects such as bicycle care and safety, consumer education, aerospace and model rocketry, public speaking, and animal sciences. 4-H offers membership without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, or handicap.