4-H Clubs

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4-H Clubs

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Joining a 4-H Club

4-H makes learning fun! In 4-H clubs, young people work with other youth and adult volunteers and mentors to learn new skills, practice leadership, give back to their community, and make new friends.

We believe in learning by doing; you decide what topics and projects interest you the most. Hundreds of projects are offered through 4-H, from learning how to cook to building a robot to caring for the environment. You make 4-H what you want it to be. Work on many projects or focus on one or two.

Why 4-H works:

4-H Clubs create a safe sense of BELONGING for members. Youth know they are part of a club where they are physically and emotionally safe, where adults care about their well-being, and where other kids have their back and support their efforts.
4-H Clubs allow members to develop their INDEPENDENCE and help them see their future, a future where they determine the path and are actively making choices to see it become real.
4-H Clubs inspire members to help others by demonstrating GENEROSITY and providing opportunity to work as a team to improve their community.
4-H Clubs provide the tools for youth to MASTER SKILLS needed for successful personal and career growth.

Explore our Current Club Offerings

4-H Cook County has 26 clubs based throughout Cook County, from North Suburban to South Suburban to West Suburban to the Chicago area.

Community Club

A 4-H Community Club is a group of 5 or more young people who meet regularly to learn new skills, develop leadership, serve their community, have fun through hands-on experiences, and prepare to exhibit at the Cook County Fair. A community club typically brings together youth from different schools, neighborhoods, or age groups and meets throughout the year with support from adult volunteers.

Connect with a Program Coordinator below to see if there's a community club in your area.

SPIN Club

A SPIN club is a special interest club where five or more young people gather to learn about a topic of interest. The topics covered can be anything the group decides: nature, heritage arts, science, engineering, gardening, technology, and more!

The clubs can be led by Extension staff or passionate volunteers who desire to share their knowledge with young people. Clubs typically meet 6-8 times over a 2-3 month period. Meetings generally last an hour, but the length is up to the individual club’s needs.

Connect with a Program Coordinator below to learn about SPIN clubs or talk about starting your own!

School Club

A 4-H School Club is a club that operates within a school setting, allowing students to participate in 4-H during or around the school day. School clubs typically partner with teachers, school staff, 4-H staff, and volunteers to provide hands-on learning experiences. Youth may participate in activities related to STEM, leadership, agriculture, health, communication, career exploration, and community service. School clubs can also attend the Cook County Fair or have a mini fair at their schools to give students the exhibition experience.

Connect with a Program Coordinator below to discuss how to bring 4-H to your school!

Family Club

A Family Club generally has fewer than 5 members, with a parent, guardian, or caregiver actively helping youth complete 4-H activities and projects. Family clubs can be especially useful when a traditional community club isn't available or when families want a more flexible way to participate. Youth can still work on projects, practice leadership, participate in community service, attend 4-H events, and exhibit their work at fairs or showcases.

Connect with a Program Coordinator below to discuss if a family club is the right fit for you.

4-H Cloverbuds

A 4-H Cloverbud Club is a club designed for younger children, typically ages 5–7, to introduce them to 4-H through fun, hands-on, age-appropriate activities. Cloverbuds focus on exploring and learning rather than competition. Activities may include science experiments, arts and crafts, animals and nature, healthy living, teamwork, and simple community-service projects. The goal is to help children build confidence, curiosity, friendships, and basic life skills while becoming familiar with the 4-H experience.

Connect with a Program Coordinator below to get your Cloverbud involved with 4-H.