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Washington State University

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Program Contact: Emily Killeen, 4-H Program Coordinator
(360) 867-2157 • tc4h@co.thurston.wa.us

Join Thurston County 4-H!

WSU Thurston County Extension • 4-H Youth Development
3054 Carpenter Rd SE • Lacey, WA 98503
(360) 867-2157

Thank you for your interest in Thurston County 4-H! The new 4-H year starts
October 1. (The 4-H year runs October 1 – September 30.) Joining 4-H early in the year offers more 4-H club choices as clubs can fill to capacity quickly.
Please follow these steps to join a Thurston County 4-H Club:

1. Check 4-H age eligibility. Thurston County 4-H is open to all youth who have reached their 5th birthday on or before October 1st of the current 4-H year through those who have not reached their 19th birthday on or before October 1st of the current 4-H year.
*Please review the details about 4-H Cloverbud age youth if you have a child aged 5 to 7.
**Please review the statement for Special Education youth aged 19 and older.

2. Determine 4-H Project interests. Most 4-H clubs in Thurston County are project-based clubs. 4-H project-based clubs focus on specific 4-H project interest areas when they gather as a club. For example, a youth wanting to care for and train a dog would join a 4-H club that offers the 4-H dog project. A self-determined project is one the 4-H member learns about and works on independently.

3. Review the list of 2023-24 Thurston County Clubs to find a potential 4-H club to join. Look for a group that offers the 4-H project interest areas your child or children are interested in learning about. Contact the 4-H office at tc4h@co.thurston.wa.us if you would like help finding a club that best fits your school-age child’s/children’s interests and needs.

4. Contact the club leader directly to learn more about the club or clubs you are interested in joining. Each 4-H club is different, and you may find it helpful to ask questions before joining. Consider asking how often the club meets and where they meet, what 4-H projects (interest areas) they cover as a club (group learning) and which 4-H projects youth are working on independently (self-determined 4-H projects). You may also want to inquire if the club has youth members the same age as your child or children. Please note: some clubs do not offer 4-H Cloverbud age activities.

5. AFTER you have contacted a club leader and confirmed with the club leader your family would like to join, please officially enroll in the 4-H Club by going to 4-H Online (the online enrollment system). Use the 4-H Online Family Guidebook and video for help with using 4-H Online. 4-H youth members must be enrolled in a 4-H Club via 4-H Online (online system) by April 15, to be eligible for Thurston County Fair 4-H entry/exhibit. Please note: the 4-H Online enrollment system is closed to new members August 1 – September 30 each year.