Today's 4-H experiences are filled with much more than 4-H projects and club meetings. There are a multitude of experiences that can make "4-H is More Than You Ever Imagined." Please contact the Extension Office if you have questions about any of these opportunities! Don't miss out!
County and State Opportunities
CARTEENS is a traffic safety education program for first time teen traffic offenders. A unique aspect of the program is that teens serve as the instructors and curriculum planners for the CARTEENS sessions which are held approximately 6 times a year. Program topics include excessive speed, driving under the influence, seat belt use, consequences of unsafe decisions, dealing with peer pressure, and traffic laws, signs, and signals. To be a CARTEENS instructor, individuals must be a freshman in high school as of January 1, 2024. Contact the Extension office if you are interested. Click HERE for and informational flyer about CARTEENS.
4-H Marketing Team - Help present an educational program to local third grade classrooms and promote the 4-H program during Erie County 4-H Awareness weeks during late February/early March. If you are interested, please contact the Extension Office.
4-H Fashion Board - Open to 4-H members 14 years & older as of 1/1/24. Members will serve in an advisory role to clothing key leaders and Extension professionals. Members will have the opportunity to plan and implement local clothing clinics, assist with the style revue, and help with the general promotion of 4-H clothing projects. Potential travel opportunities include the Ohio 4-H Teen and Volunteer Conference in March and a trip to Haberman's in Detroit.
Ohio 4-H Conference – March 9, 2024 – This one day event brings together hundreds of Ohio's older 4-H youth and volunteers in a spirit of celebration, exploration, personal development and community service. Registration deadline is February 9, 2024. Click HERE to open a new website to print the registration booklet. Click HERE for the registration form. If you are interested in going, please contact the Extension Office at 419-627-7631. The Erie County 4-H Committee will pay a portion of your registration fee. Call for more details.
4-H Leadership Camp – TBA - A five-day camp for teens 14 & older held at Camp Ohio, Utica. This program focuses on helping youth develop leadership by actually planning, conducting, and evaluating major parts of the camp program.
4-H Citizen Washington Focus - TBA - For high school youth ages 15-19 you may choose which dates to attend. In this experience, the nation's capital becomes a classroom for fostering understanding and involvement in civic responsibility, governement operations, and current issues. Visit government officals, historic sites, musems, and monuments and meet other 4-H members from across the nation.
4-H Camp Counselor – The 2024 Erie County 4-H Camp will be held TBA at Kelleys Island. To be a counselor, individuals must be a freshman in high school as of January 1, 2024. If you are interested in being a camp counselor contact Mary Beth Albright as soon as possible at Albright.75@osu.edu
Erie County Junior Fair Board – Youth must be at least a 6th grader, entering 7th grade in the fall of 2024. The 2024 application will be posted on the 'Jr. Fair Board' page of this website in early 2024. Deadline to apply is April 1, 2024.
State and National Opportunities
State Junior Fair Board – This group is comprised of representatives from several different youth organizations including 4-H. The State Fairgrounds is worksite for a month of fast-paced, action-packed State Fair coordination.
National Dairy Conference – Learn more about the dairy industry and observe new dairy industry developments. This event is held in October in Wisconsin.
Ohio Dairy Goat Conference – This conference provides delegates with the opportunity to learn more about the dairy goat industry and observe new dairy goat industry practices. Conference is held in Columbus in October.
OTA Local Government Award – Five $1,500 awards are available to high school seniors who live in a township, attend a township meeting, and must plan to attend a university, training program, or vocational school in Ohio. click HERE to learn more.
State Achievement Awards – Ohio 4-H Achievement Awards were established to highlight overall 4-H achievement in a particular program area. There are currently 21 program areas which include: Beef, CARTEENS, Citizenship & Community Service, Clothing & Textiles, Companion Animals/Dogs, Dairy, Dairy Goat, Environmental Sciences, Health & Safety, Horse, Leadership, Personal Development, Mechanical & Engineering Sciences, Family Life & Child Development, Foods & Nutrition, Gardening & Horticulture, Photography, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Swine, and Veterinary Science. Each achievement award winner will receive a trip to National 4-H Congress which is tentatively scheduled to be held in Atlanta, Georgia. Call the Extension Office for more information about 4-H Achievement Awards.
Ohio State 4-H Scholarships - Scholarships currently exist for Ohio 4-H members – the majority for graduating seniors attending The Ohio State University, but there are a few for members attending any accredited post-secondary institution. Click HERE to be taken to the Ohio 4-H website for more information.
Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council (TLC) - TLC is a statewide group of 4-H teens and young 4-H alumni that provide a youth stakeholder perspective in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Ohio 4-H programming. In the process, council members develop knowledge, skills, attitudes, and aspirations needed for future success. Click HERE to learn more.