Clubs have been the foundation of Minnesota 4-H for 100 years. “Clubs are noted for developing leaders and citizens who contribute to their communities,” says Dale Blyth, director of the Center for 4-H Youth Development, U of M Extension Service. “Clubs are such a good idea that we are working on new ways to make them more accessible for youth from ages 5-18,” Blyth says. Youth development educators have been studying lifestyles of youth and families to develop new club models as well as new activities, projects and funding partners. 4-H educators have also been working to incorporate the cultures of new immigrant populations into the club concept. New cultures bring strengths to club programs in both urban and rural areas. What do 4-H clubs actually do for kids? A random sample survey of 4-H members in 2000 found that youth in clubs reported a greater sense of belonging, quality relationships with adults, contributing back to communities, and active parent involvement. 4-H club members were also more likely to volunteer in their communities and be involved in sports and fine arts. The same survey found youth involved in 4-H were less likely to have spent six hours or more per week watching television or playing video/computer games. They were also less likely to have stolen something, damaged property, smoked cigarettes, consumed alcohol, or ridden in a car where the driver was drinking. More results of the 4-H impact study are available on the Web at www.fourh.umn.edu/evaluation. Of the 168,000 Minnesota youth who participated in Extension’s Youth Development Program in 2002, about 15 percent or 26,500 were in clubs. The most popular projects are indoor and flower gardening, arts and crafts, photography, foods and nutrition, large animals, wood and metal shop, and clothing and textiles. “4-H clubs have a wonderful history in both rural and urban Minnesota and we are working to make them even better in the next 100 years,” Blyth says. For more information about 4-H clubs, see www.mn4H.org.
