4-H Youth Development
4‑H
is America’s largest youth development organization—empowering nearly six
million young people with the skills to lead for a lifetime.
The 4‑H Youth Development STEM program is
delivered by University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Extension in
collaboration with University of Maryland Extension. Extension is a community
of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provide experiences
for young people to learn by doing. The mission of 4-H is
to teach youth ages 5-18 about citizenship, leadership, and life skills so that
they develop into competent, caring, compassionate, and contributing citizens.
For more than 100 years, 4‑H has welcomed
young people of all beliefs and backgrounds, giving youth a voice to express
who they are and how they make their lives and communities better. Through
life-changing 4‑H programs,
over six million youth have taken on critical societal issues, such as
addressing community health inequities, engaging in civil discourse and
advocating for equity and inclusion for all.
In 4‑H, youth complete hands-on projects in areas like
health, science, agriculture and civic engagement in a positive environment
where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on
proactive leadership roles. Youth experience 4‑H in every county and parish in
the country through in-school and after-school programs, school and community
clubs and 4‑H camps. 4‑H’s reach and depth are unmatched, reaching youth in
every corner of America – from urban neighborhoods to suburban schoolyards to
rural farming communities.
The UMES Extension 4-H STEM program began as an effort to increase
outreach to undeserved youth through in-school, after-school, special events
and camp programs. These efforts focus on programs in the areas of science,
technology, engineering and math (STEM) as a way to prepare youth for a growing
STEM workforce and enhance the ongoing efforts of partner organizations. >>READ MORE>>