As America's largest youth development organization, 4-H offers youth, families, and adult volunteers of all ages many ways to engage, grow and serve through clubs, camps, contests, conferences, special interest groups, in-school and after school programs, and more! It's about young people making new friends and memories while preparing to be future leaders. Jackson County 4-H has a diverse community of youth building life skills, contributing to their community and becoming college and career ready.

4-H Community Clubs offer long-term educational experiences in which members learn life skills such as decision making, public speaking and working with others. Members learn by doing under the guidance of adult volunteers, who teach projects ranging from computers science and arts to animal science and healthy living. Clubs also involve youth in community service, camping, and educational trips.

4-H Youth Futures Clubs promotes college as an obtainable goal for high school-age youths who are not typically encouraged to attend college such as 'first in family' and racial/ethnic minority students. The program is a collaborative effort of state, regional, and county Extension faculty and staff from the state's 1862 and 1890 land-grant universities.

4-H In-School and Afterschool Clubs provide extraordinary learning opportunities to school-age youth in urban, suburban and rural communities. 4-H In-School & Afterschool is designed to combine the resources of 4-H and the University of Missouri Extension System with schools and community-based organizations that provide after-school programs that address community needs.

Jackson County 4-H opportunities

4-H clubs are open to ages 8 to 18. Clubs meet throughout the year for group activities and club business. Each club elects officers and has an approved adult leader who supervises club activities. Club members also enroll in projects in their areas of interest.

With projects on more than 75 topics, 4-H has something to interest every child. Here are just a few of the opportunities 4-H offers—geocaching, robotics, international exchanges, horsemanship, pets, starting a business, arts and crafts, raising animals, woodworking, photography and gardening.

4-H Projects

Jackson County Community 4-H Clubs 

CLUB NAME CLUB LEADER LOCATION & MEETING TIME PROJECT AREAS
Classy Clovers Dwayne Morrison Blue Springs
1st Monday of the month at
7 p.m.
Various
Countywide Shooting Sports* Angela Brown Blue Springs
2nd Tuesday of every other month at 7 p.m.
Shooting Sports
Healthy Living Teen Teachers*   Kansas City Foods, Gardening, Physical Activity
KC Teen Preneurs Valencia Broadus Kansas City (Southwest KC) Entrepreneurship and Horse
Osage Oaks Equestrian Club*   Amy Kirkland Buckner Horse
Passages 4-H Korea Caualli Kansas City (Brookside) Various
Peacedale Club Abbie Seeley Oak Grove
2nd Sunday of the month at
3 p.m.
Various
Royal Clovers Grace Johnson Blue Springs
2nd Tuesday of the month at
4:30 p.m.
Various
Sunset Trails* Julie McNiff Lee's Summit
2nd Monday of the month at
6:30 p.m.
Horse
Truman Triumphs 4-H Club Jonathan Schoenherr Independence
Thursdays starting in October at
6 p.m.
Multiple Project Areas

*Projects clubs – Youth can participate in project clubs in addition to a community club.
In School and After-School 4-H Clubs

CLUB NAME CLUB LEADER LOCATION PROJECT AREAS
4-H Youth Futures Isha Williams Kansas City College preparedness, career readiness
Green Acres Urban Farm and Research Project Bill Coe East High School Agriculture, Aquaponics, and Food Production
Nowlin 4-H Club: Soccer for Success Lili Sanchez Nowlin Middle School Soccer
Guadalupe Center In-School Garden Club Christina Shackelford Guadalupe Center Gardening
Bingham 4-H Shadow Keepers Afterschool FLL Robotics School Personnel Bingham Middle School Robotics
Nowlin Middle School 4-H: Beastie Bots Afterschool FLL Robotics School Personnel Nowlin Middle School Robotics
Pioneer Ridge 4-H Club: Soccer for Success School Personnel Pioneer Ridge Middle School Soccer
Pioneer Ridge 4-H: The Ridge Afterschool FLL Robotics School Personnel Pioneer Ridge Middle School Robotics
Spring Branch 4-H: Metal Mustache Afterschool FLL Robotics School Personnel Spring Branch Elementary School Robotics
4-H Junior Naturalist SPIN CLUB, March 15–April 19, 2022 Nicole LaPlante Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, Kansas City Environment, Forestry, and Wildlife Conservation

About 4-H

4-H brings young people, ages 5 to 18, and adults together to learn everyday skills through hands-on learning. Working on activities from animal and plant sciences to robotics, 4-H’ers learn problem-solving skills that can make a positive impact upon our community. Through 4-H, young people learn to meet the diverse challenges of today’s world, build self-confidence, learn responsibility and make positive decisions.

4-H clubs are open to ages 8 to 18. Clubs meet monthly for group activities and club business. Each club elects officers and has an approved adult leader who supervises club activities. Club members also enroll in projects in their areas of interest.

With projects on more than 75 topics, 4-H has something to interest every child. Here are just a few of the opportunities 4-H offers: geocaching, robotics, international exchanges, horsemanship, pets, starting a business, arts and crafts, raising animals, woodworking, photography and gardening.

Clover Kids introduces 5- to 7-year-olds to the 4-H experience. In Clover Kids, children learn how to get along with others, work in groups and explore their interests, while building self-confidence. Clover Kids do not enroll in projects or raise animals and do not participate in competitive events, contests or shows.

Joining 4-H is as easy as contacting your local extension office. A staff member will explain the enrollment process and membership dues. In addition to dues, some projects may require a small investment to get started, and there may be a fee for materials, trips or other activities.

Young people are welcome to join at any time. The 4-H program year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. Certain activities may have participation deadlines.

Adult volunteers are essential to 4-H. Adult volunteers serve as club or project leaders, help with county or regional events, chair committees and organize fundraisers. You don't have to be a parent or grandparent of the 4-H member to get involved. All volunteers are screened for child abuse and neglect, as well criminal records, before they are accepted and each year thereafter. As a volunteer, University of Missouri Extension will provide you with training so you will be well-prepared and successful as an adult leader. The orientation includes information on 4-H history and the educational framework, the characteristics of age groups, character development and safety.

LEARN MORE

Monday Message newsletter

Keep up with Jackson County 4-H with the Monday Message. 

Sign up to receive the Jackson County 4-H Monday Message. The newsletter will be sent the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month and will include Jackson County 4-H opportunities, news and events.

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