4-H members in Marshall and Putnam counties will join the 6 million youth across the country in celebrating National 4-H Week Oct. 3-9. 4-H youth development programs provide hands-on learning activities for youth in Illinois and throughout the country. 4-H youth programs focus on leadership, citizenship and life skills.

Every county in Illinois has a 4-H program which is operated through University of Illinois Extension. 4-H club membership is open to youth aged 8 to 18. Youth 5 to 7 years of age may join the 4-H Cloverbud program.

There are several ways to participate in 4-H. Youth may join 4-H clubs, coordinated by local screened adult volunteers. Each club decides how often it meets, the location of its meetings and the activities held during the meeting. Members may select from dozens of project areas to study while they build leadership, teamwork, cooperation, decision-making and communication skills.  Youth may participate in a onetime project day at the Marshall-Putnam Extension office in Henry.  Many youth will get a taste of
4-H through a school program.

Youth may also choose to focus on a very specific project area and join a club specifically related to that one project, said Anne Scheel, University of Illinois Extension Marshall-Putnam.  Robotics, drones, gardening, visual arts, and nutrition are just a few of the popular topics for special interest clubs.

To learn more about 4-H and enroll your child in a local club, one may contact: Anne Scheel, 309 364-2356 or email amscheel@illinois.edu.