The Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development program uses a learn-by-doing approach to enable youth to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to become competent, caring, and contributing citizens of the world. This mission is accomplished by using the knowledge and resources of the land-grant university system, along with the involvement of caring adults.

Description:
The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers Cooperative
Extension. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades
K-13, on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion,
color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. In 2008,
44,260 youth (duplicates eliminated) participated in the following
ways:
ô€,f 10,140 youth were members of 762 organized 4-H clubs
ô€,f 12,153 youth were members of 383 4-H special interest/shortterm
programs
ô€,f 3,237 youth participated in 131 camping programs
ô€,f 28,881 youth were involved in 1,316 4-H school enrichment
programs
ô€,f 6 youth participated in 4-H individual study programs
ô€,f 3,079 youth participated in 159 School Age Child Care
education programs

History:
4-H clubs were preceded by corn clubs for boys and canning clubs for girls, organized in the early 1900's by public school educators who wanted to broaden the knowledge and experience of their students. 4-H became an official part of the Cooperative Extension Service, along with agriculture and home economics, at about the time Cooperative Extension was officially established by the U.S. Congress in 1914. The term "4-H Club" first appeared in a federal document in 1918, and by the mid-1920s, 4-H was well on its way to becoming a significant national program for youth. 4-H is an American idea that has spread around the world. Throughout its long history, 4-H has constantly adapted to the ever-changing needs and interests of youth.

Contact person: Richard Obal, (email)

Address:

4000 Kozloski Rd. Freehold, NJ 07728 (See a map)