Washington County celebrates 4-H youth

Washington County Youth Celebrate National 4-H Week Oct. 3-9

The anticipation is building for National 4-H Week, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers, and alumni across the country will be celebrating everything 4-H.

Oct. 3-9 is National 4-H Week, and Washington County is celebrating the 4-H youth and alumni who are making an impact on the community. During this celebrated week 4-H members and volunteers are excited to promote 4-H in special ways in communities across the county.

Several special events will be going all week to help celebrate. Washington County 4-H is proud to have such an active and supportive community of these special events and our youth.

The theme of this year’s National 4-H Week is “Find Your Spark,” which highlights how 4-H encourages kids to take part in hands-on learning experiences in areas such as health, science, agriculture and civic engagement.

The positive environment provided by 4-H mentors ensures that kids in every county and parish in the country ̶from urban neighborhoods to suburban schoolyards to rural farming communities ̶are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles and are empowered with the skills to lead in life and career.

Washington County 4-H is proud to be in the Top 10 largest 4-H programs in the state of Iowa with more than 350 fourth- through 12th-grade members last year and 180 kindergarten-third graders in Clover Kids.

National 4-H Week is the perfect time to get enrolled in 4-H for the new year as clubs are kicking off the new year this month.

There are several social media contests running this week to encourage 4-H’ers to share their 4-H stories and challenge completions which enters them in 4-H Pride Prize Package. There are 4-H locker signs in the schools and a coloring contest open until Oct. 8 at 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 is “Maker Monday” and 4-H’ers have been challenged to Chalk the Walk with 4-H pride. Make an outdoor chalk creation showing what 4-H means and why others should join.

Oct. 5 is “Tasty Tuesday” and 4-H’ers are encouraged to enjoy a meal with their family together.

Oct. 6 is “Wear it Wednesday” and 4-H’ers are challenged to Go Green in their 4-H gear to show their 4-H Pride.

Oct. 7 is “Thoughtful Thursday” and encourages 4-H’ers to serve others with thanks and random acts of kindness. Families are invited to participate in Pumpkins with a Purpose, which decorates pumpkins with kind messages and surprise deliver them to others.

Oct. 8 is “Flashback Friday” and 4-H’ers families past and present are invited to flood social media with flashback photos of favorite 4-H memories.

County Council will be sharing with fourth-grade classrooms a folder of goodies. To find a 4-H club, families should contact the Extension Office in Washington or they can find the current club options and leaders at extension.iastate.edu/washington/page/join-4-h.

4-H was founded on the belief that when kids are empowered to pursue their passions and chart their own course, their unique skills grow and take shape, helping them to become true leaders in their lives, careers and communities.

Research from Tufts University's 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that young people in 4-H are three times more likely to contribute to their communities than youth not participating in 4-H. Notably, the Tufts research discovered that the structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring that 4-H'ers receive play a vital role in helping them actively contribute to their communities.

Washington County has 4-H programs for youth in grades K-12. For more information about the 4-H program in Washington County as a member or volunteer, contact the Washington County Extension Office, 319-653-4811, or check the web at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/washington/.