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OSU Extension

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

The purpose of 4-H is to foster skill development in young people.  Youth are given opportunities to select from a variety of programs and projects.  Individuality is valued and each person is encouraged to discover his or her own skills, talents, and interests.  4-H helps young people learn to make decisions, think critically, build relationships, practice leadership, and develop a concern for their community and their world.

Lorain County reaches out to over 2,000 youth and adult volunteers annually through the 4-H program.  Find out how to join a 4-H club or become a 4-H volunteer.  

To find a 4-H Club in your area contact the Lorain County OSU Extension Office at 440-326-5851.

How to join Lorain County 4-H

  1. Connect with a local 4-H Club.- 2024 Open 4-H Club Listing
  2. Choose 1-2 projects.- 4-H Family Guide 
  3. Enroll in the 4-H Online enrollment system.  Be sure that you have attended a 4-H Club meeting BEFORE enrolling in 4-H Online!!

Cloverbuds - Youth must be 5 years old and enrolled in Kindergarten as of January 1 of the current year.  Youth in this age group take project #710 Ohio 4-H Cloverbud.

Members - Youth must be at least 8 years old and enrolled in 3rd grade as of January 1 of the current year.  Ohio 4-H membership ends December 31st of the year when a youth attains the age of 19.  Youth in this age group may choose from over 150 projects!


How to become a 4-H Volunteer

4-H Adult Volunteer Application (Complete steps 1-5).

New Adult Volunteer Applications are accepted from September 1st - March 1st of the current 4-H program year. New Volunteers will need to complete the following by April 15th of the curent year.

  1. Volunteer Cover Letter

  2. Online Volunteer Application   (Please be sure to include e-mail addresses for your references)

  3. Fingerprinting

  4. Request enrollment in the 4-H Online system 

  5. Interview with 4-H Professional (Once your application has been submitted and references returned, OSU Extension will contact you to set up an interview)

Upon completion of the above steps, you will receive an e-mail letter regarding your volunteer status.  All new volunteers are required to attend New Volunteer Orientation before April 15th. 

New Family Orientation

New to Lorain County 4-H? Join us for a brief overview of Lorain County 4-H, hands-on activities, and engaging with current 4-H members and families.Take a look at the slide presentation!

Family Orientation Presentation

New Family Packet/Recruitment:

New Family Letter

Role of Parents and Family in 4-H

Summer Enrollment

Clubs accepting new members

How to enroll in 4-H Online - you must connect with a club prior to enrolling in the online system

All about Lorain County 4-H

2024 Family Guide


Volunteer Annual Training Requirements

Lorain County 4-H volunteers must complete a minimum of two training hours per year.  Check out all the great opportunities to meet this requirement and gain new ideas for your 4-H Club!  Training hours must be completed by the enrollment deadline- April 15 of the current year. 

New volunteers MUST attend a New Volunteer Orientation (NVO) AND Youth Activities & Programs (Policy 1.50)

Returning volunteers MUST attend a minimum of two hours of training including the 4-H Update and Youth Activities & Programs (Policy 1.50).

Training

Date

Time

Location

Audience

Topics

4-H Club Officers & Advisors Conference  

2/10/2024

9:30 am – Noon

Lorain County JVS

All Volunteers

All Club Officers

(or youth interested in becoming a club officer)

 

4-H Update

Policy 1.50

Various Topics

Club Officer Workshops

New Volunteer Orientation (1-3 pm)

 

 

OH 4-H Volunteer & Youth Conference

 

3/9/2024

 

Columbus

All Volunteers

All 4-H Teens

Various Topics

 

New Volunteer Orientation

3/14/2024

6:00- 8:00 pm

Ag Center

New Volunteers

New Volunteer Orientation

 Advisors Training  

4/11/2024

6:00 –8:00 pm

Lorain County JVS

All Volunteers

 

4-H Update

Policy 1.50

Various Topics

 

 

Medina County Volunteer Training Opportunities

 

 

Various locations in Medina County

All Volunteers

4-H Update

Policy 1.50

Various Topics

New Volunteer Orientation

 

 

To register for this year’s training please click on the blue title of the training listed on the schedule above.  This will automatically direct you to our online registration. 


School Enrichment

Lorain County 4-H offers programs you can bring to your classroom or student body.  Find resources and opportunities to enhance lessons or bring in guest educators to your school.  4-H publications and presentations may involve a fee.  Contact the Extension Office for more information.  

Real World Real Money - Real Money, Real World, is an active, hands-on experience that gives young people the opportunity to make lifestyle and budget choices similar to those they will make as adults.  It is intended to be a partnership of the county OSU Extension Office, the school, and the business community.  Real Money, Real World supports social studies content standards as well as Ohio’s Family and Consumer Sciences Content Standards­ demonstrating personal financial literacy.

ChickQuest - Hearing soft peeps from inside an egg they’ve been watching for 21 days brings Science Alive for youth.  It’s just one of the exciting adventures in ChickQuest, a 4-H STEM Program. These lively lessons develop curiosity, encourage collaboration and communication, and deepen understanding of science, engineering, and technology while providing youth with an unforgettable experience.

Science Series - Click here for available program materials.


 

4-H MOTTO

"To Make The Best Better"

4-H SLOGAN

"Learning By Doing"

4-H PLEDGE

I pledge:  My Head to Clearer Thinking,

My Heart to Greater Loyalty,

My Hands to Larger Service,

My Health to Better Living,

For My Club, My Community, My Country, and My World.

4-H CREED

I believe in 4-H Club work for the opportunity it will give me to become a useful citizen.

I believe in the training of my HEAD for the power it will give me to think, plan and to reason.

I believe in the training of my HEART for the nobleness it will give me to become kind, sympathetic, and true.

I believe in the training of my HANDS for the ability it will give me to be helpful, useful, and skillful.

I believe in the training of my HEALTH for the strength it will give me to enjoy life, to resist disease and to work efficiently.

I believe in my country, my state and my community and in my responsibility for their development.

In all these things I believe, and am willing to dedicate my efforts to their fulfillment.