Dunn County 4-H and Positive Youth Development
Welcome to Dunn County 4-H!
4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.
For more than a century, Wisconsin has been a leader in 4-H youth development, giving young people throughout the state an opportunity to learn new skills, gain self-confidence and contribute to their communities. Using real-life experiences from a team of devoted educators and volunteers, 4-H members benefit from leadership training, community-building experiences and experiential-learning opportunities to better their own lives and the lives of the people around them.
The wide array of 4-H programs enriches the lives of participants and their families and strengthens Wisconsin’s communities through volunteer service, civic involvement, and leadership.
What is 4-H all about?
4-H members get involved in their communities as volunteers and youth leaders. They learn new things by completing dozens of different kinds of projects, going on trips, having parties, hosting international students, participating in local government, experimenting with science, making art, going to camp, learning to canoe or taking care of an animal. These activities are largely facilitated though, research-based youth programming, learning-by-doing, regular 4-H club meetings, and adult mentorship. 4-H fosters healthy youth and adult relationships through process solving, project development, and interactive learning. 4-H is fun. 4-H grows here!
According to the 4‑H Study of Positive Youth Development by Tufts University, 4‑H youth are:
- 6 times more likely to be at the highest levels of positive development
- More likely to see themselves going to college compared to other youth
- 25% more likely to contribute to themselves, their families, and communities
- 41% less likely to engage in high risk behaviors
The Positive Development of Youth: Comprehensive Findings from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development is a longitudinal study that began in 2002 and was repeated annually for eight years, surveying more than 7,000 adolescents from diverse backgrounds across 42 U.S. states. Check out the Full Report (pdf) | Fact Sheet (pdf)
Resources
If you have any questions regarding Dunn County 4-H, please contact:
Extension Dunn County
3001 US Hwy 12 E, Suite 216
Menomonie WI 54751-3045
Phone: 715-232-1636
Statewide 4-H News
- Who’s Got the Beat! As we settle into the rhythms of winter, it is a perfect time to think about art and our next major 4-H State Arts activity, Art Beat! Actually, when isn’t a good time to think about art? Art Beat is for any 4-H member in grades 3-5 and will be held […]
- Community service is a backbone of 4-H. Research shows that generosity toward your community helps develop young people to be civically engaged as adults. 4-H Volunteer, Norm Joseph, dreamed of getting fresh produce from local farms to local food banks. 4-H Educator, Rachel Hart-Brinson, helped him develop the concept of volunteers picking produce at local […]
- Youth in Milwaukee discovered 4-H through a variety of engaging, short-term spark series! During Fall 2024, Milwaukee County 4-H Associate Educator Athena Mayes and AmeriCorps Member Jack Piaskoski led a variety of six-week series at nine schools and afterschool programs across the city. These fun, hands-on, educational series included: chess, creative writing, Lego Play, robotics, […]
- Iowa County 4-H celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of its youth members, volunteers, and leaders during the annual 4-H Awards Day on Sunday, Dec. 8th, held at the Health and Human Services Building in Dodgeville, WI. This inspiring event brought together families, community members, and supporters to honor the dedication and hard work that define Iowa […]
- For the fifth consecutive year, the Dunn, Eau Claire, and Chippewa County 4-H programs are partnering with the UW-Stout Art Education Department and Arts Integration Menomonie (AIM) to offer Art U, a virtual and in person art education program, to youth in the Chippewa Valley. All Dunn, Eau Claire, and Chippewa County youth in grades […]
