4-H Youth

About 4-H

4-H is a worldwide youth development program available in every state and over eighty countries. It is open to all youth aged 5-to-18, who want to have fun, learn new skills, and explore the world. In return, youth who participate in 4-H find a supportive environment and opportunities for hands-on or "experiential" learning about things that interest them. They also get what all young people need to succeed in life--the confidence, compassion and connections with caring adults to make contributions to their communities. The mission of Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development is to unleash the power of youth and adults through diverse opportunities that meet community needs.

4-H'ers participate in fun, hands-on learning activities, supported by the latest research of land-grant universities, that are focused on three areas:

Mission Mandates

Citizenship - Civic engagement is the broadest mission mandate; it incorporates youth voice, leadership, respect, history, community youth development, STEM, and Healthy Lifestyles.

Healthy Living - "Choose Health" is an initiative of the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program intended to help all of us confront and take action to change the statistics of childhood obesity. This link includes project resources, promotional materials, and more!

Science, Engineering and Technology - Kids who participate in science activities outside of the classroom are more likely to be comfortable with science. This link takes you to numerous 4-H Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) projects that give families science enrichment opportunities and connect kids to Cornell’s science outreach programs.

Learn More!

Find out more about the history of 4-H and what it can offer you, then get in touch with Rachel today! We're looking forward to welcoming you to Albany County 4-H!

Last updated June 25, 2025