Head for thinking, Heart for caring, Hands for working, Health for better living

Over the past 100-plus years, Cooperative Extension's 4-H Youth Development program has touched the lives of tens of thousands of New Hampshire's young people aged five to 18 with an approach that imparts essential life skills through learning by doing.

Today's 4-H still offers the club structure and projects in animal science, clothing design, carpentry, and vegetable gardening that grandma would recognize.

But you're as likely to find today's 4-H'ers exploring career options, entrepreneurship, nutrition and fitness, computer technology, GPS mapping, rocketry, public speaking, entomology, shooting sports, photography, and much, much more.

Interim results from an ongoing research project at Tufts University suggest that 4-H participation provides measurable and significant advantages for kids across a great range of variables studied. Compared with other youth, 4-H kids had higher grades in school, more community involvement, fewer risky behaviors, and less susceptibility to peer pressure.

"Kids thrive in 4-H because of sustained involvement with caring adults, the sense of belonging that comes from connecting with their peers in safe environments, and engagement in projects and activities that follow their own interests," says UNH Extension Educator, Rick Alleva. "There's no topic a kid can't explore in a 4-H club or afterschool program. All projects encourage mastery, independence, generosity, healthy living, citizenship and civic engagement."

How do we do it?

Well-trained, well supported volunteers actually conduct a high percentage of 4-H programs, as club leaders, project leaders, and on-tap community resource volunteers.

In 2009 4-H programs touched the lives of more than 20,000 young people and involved more than 2,600 adult and youth volunteers.

All 4-H programs engage youth in core activities that emphasize leadership, citizenship and lifeskill development. But because the needs and interests of children, adult volunteers, and families differ from one New Hampshire region to another, you'll find the 4-H clubs and activities in one county differ significantly from those in a neighboring county. Contact your local Extension office to learn more about 4-H in your county.

New forms of outreach: Training afterschool providers, supporting military kids

Nationally and locally, Cooperative Extension's youth outreach never stops growing to meet society's changing needs.

In recent years, the 4-H program has become involved in training afterschool program staff in the 4-H positive youth development model, and in the process increasing access of young people to 4-H.

Since 2005, UNH Cooperative Extension has also coordinated a statewide support system for the more than 4000 children of National Guard, Reservists, and active military personnel called Operation: Military Kids.

Cori's story A military kid speaks for herself.

Operation: Military Kids 2009 Report

Today's 4-Hers tell their stories

Shaping a Life: "I never dreamed I would achieve as much as I have through 4-H"

From farm to 4-H to Dartmouth for Walpole's Kirsten Beaudry