By MINDY WISE
4-H Youth Development Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County

Indiana 4-H enrollment is now open in Kosciusko County through Jan. 15. Four-H is a premier source of enjoyable, educational programs to help young people reach their full potential. Plus, new for 2015, enrollment is easier than ever with the 4-H Online system, https://in.4honline.com.

Indiana 4-H is the state’s largest youth development program for grades 3-12, reaching over 200,000 youth in all 92 counties. 4-H Youth Development Educators in each Purdue Extension county office coordinate local activities.

In Kosciusko County, approved adult volunteers teach young people specific skills related to a wide variety of subjects through hands-on, experiential learning. Youth also develop leadership and citizenship skills by participating in one of 20 organized 4-H Clubs.

Subjects include: science, technology, engineering, and math (S.T.E.M.); agriculture; citizenship; healthy living; art; consumer and family sciences; and more. In 2013, a Tufts University study showed that 4-H members also excel in positive youth development areas compared to peers, including:

• Four times more likely to contribute to their communities (grades 7-12)
• Two times more likely to make healthier choices (grade 7)
• Two times more likely to be civically active (grades 8-12)
• Two times more likely to participate in extracurricular STEM programs (grades 10-12)

Now, the new 4-H Online system makes it even more convenient to offer enrollment, event registration, calendars and secure payment online.

Youth may be enrolled in Kosciusko County 4-H by Ja. 15, 2015 online at https://in.4honline.com or by visiting the Kosciusko County Purdue Extension office, 202 W. Main St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. The $20 fee per child includes all Indiana 4-H program fees.

For more information about specific 4-H subjects in Kosciusko County or the 4-H program in general, visit extension.purdue.edu/Kosciusko. If you have questions about Kosciusko County 4-H, call me, 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator, at (574) 372-2340 or e-mail [email protected].