Virtual 4-H Club Experience
Thank you for your interest in the 4-H program! We are excited to offer a Virtual 4-H Club Experience to begin your family’s 4-H journey. Members will gain knowledge of 4-H project areas, while learning more about opportunities available to Illinois 4-H members.
Join Lake and McHenry County 4-H staff and volunteers for a 7-week “Virtual 4-H Club Experience.” This virtual 4-H club will introduce new members to the 4-H program and provide an opportunity to explore a variety of 4-H projects including but not limited to: Cooking, Health & Nutrition, Food Science, Horticulture/Vegetable Gardening, Leadership, and more. Learn about other club opportunities in your local area.
Members of the “Virtual 4-H Club Experience” will enjoy the benefits of the Illinois 4-H membership including additional club opportunities such as joining a local Community Club, any Special Interest (SPIN) Club offered in Lake or McHenry County, and Illinois 4-H State events/activities requiring Illinois 4-H membership. Membership also qualifies youth to participate in 4-H judging events such as the county 4-H Fair/Shows and public speaking contests.
Virtual 4-H Club Experience
- WHO: McHenry & Lake County youth
- WHAT: 6 week 4-H program introducing a new project area each week
- WHERE: Attend virtual meetings via ZOOM from your own home!
- AGES: Recommended for youth 5-12 years of age as of September 1, 2021
- COST: $20 Enrollment fee per youth ($60 max per family)
- WHEN:
- October 30 through December 11
- 10:00am to 11:00am
- WHY: Youth build life skills by leading hands-on projects independently in areas like science, health, agriculture and, civic engagement – helping them to grow confidence, independence, resilience, and compassion. see Illinois 4-H Website: https://4h.extension.illinois.edu/members
Club meetings will be hosted through the University of Illinois Extension's ZOOM account. Each club meeting will focus on a different project area for six weeks (not including one off week during Thanksgiving weekend.) Project areas may include but are not limited to: Healthy Living, Leadership, STEM, Environment & Natural Resources, Horticulture, Visual Arts and so much more.
ZOOM meeting link and short supply list for the first meeting will be included in the confirmation email.
For more information about your local 4-H program, see the website: https://extension.illinois.edu/lm/4-h-youth-development
Lake County 4-H
- Lake County 4-H Program Coordinator: Ofelia Delgado at odelgado@illinois.edu
- Lake County 4-H Clubs – view a list of Lake County 4-H clubs
McHenry County 4-H
- McHenry County 4-H Program Coordinator: Michele Aavang at maavang@illinois.edu
- McHenry County 4-H Clubs – view a list of McHenry County 4-H clubs
This registration serves as a LOCAL registration for the local club. You will also need to register in 4-H Online as an Illinois 4-H member in either Lake OR McHenry County, select “Virtual 4-H Club Experience” as your club/unit with a minimum of one project by November 13, 2021. Please contact the county program coordinator for assistance.
Instructions below...
Pick Your Projects
4-H makes learning fun! A variety of projects are offered through 4-H so you can pick the ones that most interest you. Or you can find other young people with the same interest and study that topic with the help of a volunteer that shares the same interests. 4-H projects help members to learn by doing. You go at your own pace, set your own goals, and choose what you wish to learn. Review the “Pick Your Project” guide to all the 4-H projects you may enroll or go to the 4-H Project Page and see more details about each project.
Enroll Online
4-H Online is our online enrollment system. The online system is easy to use and there are guides below that help step you through the process. Every change you make is dated, so you'll be sure to meet all registration deadlines.
A few tips for enrolling online:
- 4-H Online Family Enrollment Guide: Set up a family account and enroll using this instruction guide.
- Enroll youth by selecting either Lake OR McHenry County: , Club: "Virtual 4-H Club Experience" with a minimum of one 4-H project of your choice.
- Lifetime Extension Participant/Volunteer Assumption of Risk & Release forms will need to be completed and submitted to the Extension office. Forms may be submitted HERE or emailed to your county program coordinator.
- Illinois 4-H membership fee includes membership to ALL 4-H clubs.
- Paying the one time per year membership fee of $20 per member ($60 per family max.) qualifies members to join one Community Club, ALL SPIN clubs, Local & State events requiring Illinois 4-H membership. (Example: Members enrolled in the virtual club may also join SPIN Clubs such as Cooking, Dogs, Horses, Shooting Sports, etc. clubs in addition to a community club as a current member.)
- 4-H Enrollment Fee Scholarships are available. Please complete and submit the form to your local program coordinator