How to Join 4-H

Who Can Join 4-H?

4-H is open to all youth ages 5-18, as of October 1 of the current 4-H enrollment year. The 4-H year runs October 1 to September 30.

There are four age groups in 4-H:

Cloverbud: ages 5-7
Junior: ages 8-10
Intermediate: ages 11-13
Senior: ages 14 to 19

Youth must be at least 5 years old by October 1 in order to enroll in the current 4-H enrollment year. Senior members who turn 19 after October 1 are still eligible to participate in 4-H for the remainder of that enrollment year.

Cloverbud members are not allowed to participate hands-on with large animal projects (horses, beef, sheep, pigs, large goats), food preservation, or shooting sport projects.

In 4-H, youth choose one or more areas of interest to explore. 4-H calls these areas of interest “projects”. Youth also choose a 4-H club in which to explore their project. Follow these steps to get involved in a 4-H Club.

Choose a Project
- What are you interested in? 4-H offers many opportunities to learn more! Choose one (or more) of the projects offered in Chelan/Douglas County 4-H:
  - Horses, Rabbits, Cavies, Beef, Sheep, Swine, Goats, Poultry
  - Gardening, Entomology, Fishing, Veterinary Science, Small Engines, Robotics, STEM
  - Baking, Cooking, Food Preservation
  - Crafts, Sewing, Needlework, Photography, Creative Arts, Performing Arts, Metalworking, Woodworking
  - Leadership, Government Studies, College Prep and more!
Choose a 4-H Club
- To find a club that offers leadership in the project you are interested in, visit our 4-H Club Directory (coming soon…)
- You can also contact 4-H staff to find a club; or to learn how to start your own! 509-667-6540 or email at sarah.fitzgerald1@wsu.edu.
Make Connections
- Use the provided contact information to connect with clubs to learn more about them and arrange to visit meetings or activities to find the club that best fits your needs and goals.
Enroll in 4-H and Have Fun!
- Once you have chosen a club, enroll in 4-HOnline. Then jump right in and get involved! 4-H is all about learning-by-doing, hands-on fun!

4-H Participation Models

Community Clubs

A 4-H club is a group of youth who are led by volunteers. Clubs may be a single-project club, where the group only participates in one project area (like only horses, or only sewing) or multi-project club, where the group participates in many project areas.

4-H Programs & Events

Each year the Chelan/Douglas 4-H Program invites youth to participate in a variety of local, regional, and statewide 4-H events and programs including Clover Club, 4-H State Teen Conference at WSU, Know Your Government, Super Saturday, and more. Some opportunities require 4-H enrollment and others are open to any youth in the community. Visit the Chelan/Douglas 4-H Facebook Page to find current information about upcoming events, conferences, and programs available to youth ages 5-18 in Chelan and Douglas Counties.