ST. CHARLES, Ill. – Each fall, Illinois 4-H kicks off a new year, and to celebrate, local 4-H programs host open house events in DuPage, Kane, and Kendall counties.
4-H Youth Development programs focus on building leadership, citizenship, and life skills. In the coming weeks, join our University of Illinois Extension team and 4-H clubs from each community for hands-on activities and the opportunity to meet volunteers and staff.
“In 4-H, youth are brought together in clubs, led by caring adults, who welcome them as a part of the larger 4-H family,” said Andrea Farrier, 4-H Youth Development Educator with University of Illinois Extension. “We welcome interested families to check out what 4-H is all about and meet staff as well as volunteer leaders, who are the backbone of our program.”
4-H youth development programs provide the opportunity for youth to feel a sense of belonging through clubs and activities, develop independence and teamwork, practice generosity through community service, and experience mastery through project work. These programs also open the door for youth to participate in amazing opportunities at the regional, state, and national levels.
In addition to developing life skills, 4-H members can explore dozens of projects in seven areas of study – animal science, career and leadership development, creative arts, environmental sciences, global civic engagement, healthy living and nutrition, and STEM.
“Through 4-H, I have grown my leadership skills and knowledge, and built lifelong friendships,” said Autumn Kriegel, a longtime Kane County 4-H member who started college this fall. “I feel 4-H also prepared me for my next chapter.”
Learn more about what 4-H can offer your family, stop by one of the 4-H Kick Off events in the tri-county area this fall:
- Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles
- Thursday, Oct. 9 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Kendall County Fairgrounds, 10826 IL Route 71, Yorkville
- Sunday, Oct. 12 from 3-5 p.m. at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton
Every county in Illinois has a 4-H program, which is part of University of Illinois Extension. 4-H club membership is open to youth aged 8 to 18, and the Cloverbud program is designed for ages 5 to 7.
There is no need to register for these open houses. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact 630-584-6166 or uie-dkk@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs. For more information, fill out an interest survey.
Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.