What is 4-H?

The Tuolumne County 4-H Youth Development Program offers many fun and educational activities for youth members.

Community Clubs are the year-round 4-H program most visible in Tuolumne County. Families choose and attend a community club which meets once each month. Youth members choose projects to participate in depending on their interests. Projects meet separately from clubs, usually once per month. Projects are taught by adult volunteer leaders and Junior/Teen Leaders.

The Community Club program offers opportunities to make new friends, learn about raising animals, be involved and make a difference in our community, be a leader, learn public speaking and record keeping skills, go to camp, create things for everyone to enjoy, and go on exciting trips!

A variety of projects are offered in large and small livestock: beef, horses, sheep, swine, dairy goats, meat goats, pygmy goats, dog care, rabbits, exotic birds, homing pigeons and poultry. Some of our non-livestock projects include cake decorating, community service, crafts, foods & nutrition, gardening, golf, home arts, knitting, photography, public speaking, Relay for Life, rocketry, sewing, and shooting sports - archery & rifle. Club activities take place afterschool, evenings and weekends. 4-H Council provides educational events for all members in all clubs throughout the year.

Children age 7-8 may join the Community Club program as Primary Members. They may take projects that involve group learning such as gardening, small animals and healthy foods. Per state policy, primary members may not take large animal or shooting sports projects. A parent/guardian must accompany a Primary Member at all 4-H activities.

In School Projects such as the Embryology (chick hatching) project are taught by the 4-H program staff in classrooms at local schools. There is also a Vermi-Composting unit, a Butterfly unit and a Ladybug unit. For more information contact the 4-H Office at 533-6990.

PM Club is an after-school program for school-age children of working parents held at five local schools: Columbia, Curtis Creek, Sonora, Soulsbyville and Twain Harte. There are two full-day programs in the summer. PM Clubs are operated by Senior Youth Partnership as a cooperative effort with the local schools and the University of California's 4-H program. 4-H provides the educational framework, projects, and staff training. For more information about PM Clubs, contact Karen Griffin at the SYP office, 533-5641 or syp@mlode.com.