By Debbie Moellendorf
4-H Youth Development Educator
UW-Extension Cooperative Extension Lincoln County
Since 1914, Wisconsin 4-H has helped youth grow the leadership, critical thinking and communications skills necessary to be successful in a constantly changing world. Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development is part of the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization, with more than 150,000 youth in urban, suburban and rural settings involved with 4-H and other UW-Extension youth programs in the state’s 72 counties. Wisconsin 4-H’s 16,000 adult volunteers serve as mentors and role models who provide a safe, interactive place for youth to take risks, practice their independence and master new skills. Adults who volunteer for 4-H learn and strengthen skills that help them in the workplace and to become better connected to their communities.
4-H youth development programs have been and continue to be delivered in a variety of ways in Lincoln County. From our 12 neighborhood and community 4-H clubs to our six after school programs to county educational opportunities, 4-H youth development provides young people throughout Lincoln County a chance to learn new skills, gain self-confidence and contribute to their communities. Opportunities are created to provide youth real world experiences that teach leadership and citizenship skills. 4-H is open to all youth in 5-year old kindergarten through one year past graduation from high school no matter where you live in the county.
Each year, we host two Project Discovery Days designed to provide youth, a chance to discover what they can learn and do in 4-H. During the day, youth can choose to participate in a variety of sessions that are led by 4-H adult and older youth volunteers and University of Wisconsin-Extension staff members. This event is open to all youth in 5-year kindergarten through one year past high school graduation.
Our next 4-H Project Discovery Day will be held on Saturday, March 17, at the Tomahawk Middle School Cafeteria (Enter Door #4). Choose from exciting topics such as archery, model horses, basket weaving, painting, scale models, robotics, dairy, dance and visual arts projects.
The overall event is free with only small charges for some of the sessions. A complete listing of sessions and registration forms can be found on the Lincoln County UW-Extension website at http://lincoln.uwex.edu/. You can also find copies at T.B. Scott Library in Merrill, Tomahawk Library and the UW-Extension office located at 801 N. Sales St., Suite 101 in Merrill. Completed registration and fees are due to the UW-Extension office by Feb. 21. Interested youth are encouraged to return registrations early as some sessions have limited numbers of participants and are filled on a first come first serve basis. Pre-registration by Feb. 21 is required to participate in this event. Contact the UW-Extension office at 715-539-1072 for more information or questions.
If you are interested in learning more about 4-H or want to get involved in Lincoln County 4-H, please feel free to contact the UW-Extension office at 715-539-1072 or visit our website at http://lincoln.uwex.edu/ or subscribe to the Lincoln County 4-H Blog http://fyi.uwex.edu/lincolncounty4h/ for up to the minute 4-H news.