What is 4-H?
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- What is 4-H?
What is 4-H?
4-H is a youth development program where members learn by doing. Through hands-on projects, club activities, public speaking, leadership opportunities, community service, camps, events, and competitions, youth build confidence, develop life skills, make friends, and discover what they are capable of.
What is 4-H Alberta?
4-H Alberta brings that experience to youth, families, volunteers, and communities across the province.
For more than 100 years, 4-H has helped Alberta youth grow into confident, capable, and community-minded leaders. Today, 4-H Alberta welcomes both rural and urban members with a wide range of interests, including agriculture, food, photography, science and technology, outdoor education, archery, small engines, public speaking, leadership, crafts, active living, and more.
At its heart, 4-H Alberta is about belonging, growth, and real-life learning. Members choose projects that interest them, set goals, try new things, take on responsibility, and learn from caring volunteer leaders and mentors.
Most importantly, 4-H is fun. It gives youth a place to participate, contribute, lead, and be part of something bigger.
At 4-H, members learn through their head, heart, hands, and health:
My head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty, My hands to larger service, And my health to better living, For my club, my community, my country, and my world
Ready to get started?
Click the button below to join a 4-H club, explore opportunities near you, or learn how to start a new club in your community.
Join a 4-H Club
4-H Benefits
The programs and projects members take part in during their time in 4-H helps them become assertive and confident leaders who are able to make decisions and facilitate change. In 4-H members learn to take responsibility, establish goals for themselves and others, plan large projects/events and work towards a greater purpose – making the youth of today great leaders of tomorrow. 4-H Leadership Opportunities for Adults
The goal of 4-H Alberta is to encourage members to see themselves for who they are – active, audible, and accountable leaders of tomorrow. 4-H members are taught to be self-directed learners, excellent communicators, and to thrive in a team environment. This leads to them having self confidence in their judgments, ability and their power to facilitate change. 4-H members also grow-up in a supportive environment that encourages them to learn from mistakes and take risks which leads to them being confident young adults prepared to navigate their careers and personal lives.
Youth in 4-H acquire a number of transferable skills including in the ability to take initiative, leaderships skills, problem-solving, time management , public speaking and interpersonal communication skills as well as many more. By the time 4-H members become 4-H alumni they have developed skills that will help them succeed in any future endeavours they decide to undertake.
Did We Mention We Give Out Awards and Money? Ya, that’s what gets most people’s attention.
4-H members pursuing a post-secondary education have the opportunity to secure thousands (yes thousands!) of dollars in scholarships to support their goals and aspirations.
4-H Alberta recognizes our members’ hard work and achievements through our own award programs including the honour of being recognized as the Premier’s Award Recipient. Imagine how good THAT would look on a resume!
We love to go places so if you’re the travelling type then 4-H is THE place to be. Every year 4-H members hit the road, touring across the country, North America and even over an ocean or two.
And remember, with travel comes perspective; with perspective comes wisdom and with wisdom come confidence, maturity, introspection and curiosity. All of which are attributes that 4-H aims to grow in our members.
Programs for Any Interest
4-H Is…
- A Great Place to Grow: Youth run the show. Clubs meet monthly, members take on leadership roles, and lifelong friendships form along the way.
- Fun & Friends: Projects are flexible and open-ended, so you can work on your own or with a group on just about anything you can dream up.
- Family: Clubs run on family support and volunteer leadership, so youth and adults are all part of the 4-H family.
- Personal Development: A safe, encouraging place to work inside or step outside your comfort zone, and build skills that carry into school, work, and life.