Welcome

About the 4-H Program
4-H is the youth development education program of Washington State University Extension, which is conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, your state land grant university (WSU) and your Whatcom County Goverment. Today 4-H is everywhere--in cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural communities. 4-H is the largest youth development organization in the nation. The United States has more than 5 million members and 600,000 leaders. Around the world, 4-H type clubs now exist in at least 82 countries. In the 1990s 4-H serves a broad clientele with expanded program focus using a variety of ways to deliver its effective "learn by doing" approach.

Vision

Washington State University 4-H Youth Development is developing young people to become productive citizens who are engaged in positive change, meeting the needs of a diverse and changing society.

Mission

4-H youth development education creates supportive environments for all youth and families to reach their fullest potential. This will be accomplished through a systemic approach of foundation and mission driven science to meet our goals to:

• Provide formal and non-formal experiential learning
• Develop skills that benefit youth throughout life
• Foster leadership and volunteerism in youth and adults
• Build internal and external partnerships for programming and funding
• Strengthen families and communities
• Employ research based knowledge and the land grant university system
• Embrace and expand the traditions of the 4-H Youth Program