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4-H, Youth & Families – Wahkiakum County

Welcome to Wahkiakum County 4-H!

The 4-H Youth Development Program helps young people grow to become productive citizens. We offer 4-H clubs and projects. Wahkiakum County 4-H youth programs build leadership skills, communication skills, and citizenship skills!

4-H is the largest youth program in the nation, 4-H is a national program that has a home in every state in the country! The home of the 4-H Youth Development Program in our state is Washington State University, and it is brought to local communities by Washington State University Extension faculty and staff.

4-H logo with Head, Heart, Hands and Health


Our Mission: Positive Youth Development

Members at Teen CampThe mission of the 4-H Youth Development Program in Wahkiakum County is to help young people grow into responsible, contributing citizens. To reach this goal, 4-H has developed educational materials that emphasize development of life skills in young people through fun, hands-on projects. The 4-H educational materials are developed by education specialists, and updated approximately every five years to keep the content fresh and relevant. Each leader and member manual is full of directions for fun, hands-on activities that, at the same time, teach critical life skills.


Who can join 4-H

4-H is open to every youth, ages 5-19, without discrimination!

There are four age groups* in which you can do a wide variety of projects and activities:

  • Cloverbuds: ages 5-7
  • Junior: ages 8-10
  • Intermediate: ages 11-13
  • Senior: ages 14 to less than 19

*Shooting sports and large animal projects require youth to be at least 8 years of age on October 1st to participate.


How to Join 4-H

To join a club in Wahkiakum County please contact the WSU Wahkiakum County Extension office at (360) 795-3278 to get started.


Please Visit or Contact Us!

We warmly welcome you to Wahkiakum County 4-H! Whether you are new to the Clover or already part of the 4-H family, we hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for on our website. If not, please email or call the extension office.

WSU Wahkiakum County Extension Office
PO Box 278 (mailing)
25 River Street, Lower Level (street)
Cathlamet, WA 98612-0278
Phone: (360) 795-3278
Find us on Google Maps
Office Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Pacific County Extension Faculty & Staff

Caroline Backman, County Director
carrie.backman@wsu.edu|(360) 795-3278

Donna Westlind, Administrative Assistant
donna.westlind@wsu.edu|360) 795-3278

Lisa Frink, 4-H Youth Mobilization & Leadership Coordinator
(360) 795-3278


Mission

4-H youth development education creates supportive environments for all youth and families to reach their fullest potential.

Vision

A world in which youth and adults learn, grow and work together as catalysts for positive change.

As the youth development program of the nation’s 109 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System, 4-H fosters an innovative, “learn by doing” approach with proven results.  The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, a longitudinal study conducted by the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University, shows youth engaged with 4-H are:

  • Nearly two times more likely to get better grades in school;
  • Nearly two times more likely to plan to go to college;
  • 41 percent less likely to engage in risky behaviors; and
  • 25 percent more likely to positively contribute to their families and communities.

4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization. We reach out to kids and their families to build skills for real life. WSU 4-H Youth Development is committed to providing safe and inclusive environments for all youth and adults regardless of race; sex; gender; sexual orientation; gender identity/expression; religion; age; color; creed; national or ethnic origin; citizenship; physical, mental, or sensory ability; genetic information; and/or status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the military.

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