About 4-H
Did you know that Rock County 4-H Youth Development has the largest 4-H club program in Wisconsin? Youth learn life skills through community and after school 4-H clubs, county-wide activities and 4-H projects. Strong youth-adult partnerships provide opportunities for youth to develop skills through hands-on, practical, research-based, fun activities. Youth grow and develop as individuals, get involved in their communities and develop leadership skills that will help them throughout their lifetime.
Discover 4-H (English & Spanish) (PDF 2 MB)
Major programs include:
- Community 4-H Clubs
- After School 4-H Clubs
- Summer 4-H Camp
- Awards, Achievements and Recognition
- Life Skill Development Through Projects and Activities
- Youth-Adult Partnerships
- Volunteer and Leadership Development
Become an Adult 4-H Volunteer!
Please consider sharing your time and talents as an adult 4-H Volunteer! If you are interested in leading a project or activity becoming a 4-H Volunteer is the first step.
To become a 4-H Volunteer in Wisconsin, there are six steps (with an optional 7th training for overnight chaperones):
Simplified Steps to becoming a 4-H Volunteer
Training is one way that 4-H invests in you, the volunteers who support young people who participate in the program. In the same way that 4-H youth strive to “make the best better,” we as adults can continue to learn and grow throughout our lives. We invite you to use the resources below to explore more about how to ensure youth are thriving through Wisconsin 4-H.
Whether you are a new or returning volunteer, you can find an overview of all required 4-H Volunteer trainings here (PDF 124 KB). Click on each training title within the PDF to access each training module.
Frequently Asked Questions
NEW TO 4-H
What is 4-H membership?
A child becomes a 4-H member by joining a community 4-H club or an after school 4-H club. New members are welcome to visit 4-H club meetings and join 4-H at any time during the year. Membership is open to all youth regardless of their ethnic background, race, gender, handicap status, religious or political beliefs.
How do I try 4-H before joining?
There are so many ways to DO-REFLECT-APPLY around Rock County. Rock County 4-H participates in county events.
Follow our Division of Extension Facebook to stay informed or read the Weekly Update.
Sign up for Wisconsin 4-H Distance Learning opportunities. We are always creating, trying and building materials. Contact our office for more information.
Interested in learning more, explore these activities (Google Drive): Exploring 4-H Grades K-2, Exploring 4-H Grades 3-6, Photography, Cake Decorating. Or participate in our Goosechase experiences around the county!
Check out 4-H curriculum to try at home. Thanks to Milton Public Library, 4-H materials can be checked out through the Share catalog. Rock County 4-H also created several book club in a bag opportunities for youth and families. Search ‘Book Club Bag Family’ for ‘Separate is Never Equal’ and ‘American as Paneer Pie’.
Connect your ‘Spark’ to a 4-H project (PDF 350 KB). Then download a project sheet that interests you!
Sign up for CLOVER by 4-H. This is an interactive, e-learning platform.
When can youth join 4-H
Youth in Kindergarten (5K), first or second grade as of October 1st may join Rock County 4-H as Cloverbuds. Youth in third grade and up as of October 1st may join as regular members. Youth continue to be eligible for 4-H membership through the next 4-H year following their high school graduation and not to extend beyond the age of 19 at the time of enrollment.
How do I enroll in Rock County 4-H?
New Family Project Guide Handbook (PDF, 350 KB)
The first step is to select a club. Check out the 4-H Club Map & Meeting Information for details. Feel free to contact a few clubs and/or visit their meetings to help determine which club is a good fit for your family. Introduce yourself to the club leader as a prospective 4-H family. Club leaders will have further enrollment information. New members may join at any time but must be enrolled by March 1st to exhibit at the Rock County 4-H fair that year.
Next, select the projects (educational content areas) in which you are interested in learning about. Please see the policy regarding the maximum number of projects you can take, below. All projects are listed in the Rock County 4-H Project Guide:
Rock County 4-H Project Guide 2024-2025 (PDF 350 KB)
When you have selected your projects, you are ready to enroll through 4HOnline! Instructions for enrolling are found here:
Enrolling in 4HOnline as a NEW family (pdf 350 KB)
Finally, be SURE to attend the next meeting of your 4-H club and pay your enrollment fees to the club chairperson! Then keep attending meetings, get involved in your projects, participate in club and county 4-H activities, and have a GREAT year in Rock County 4-H!
In how many 4-H projects may a 4-H member enroll?
There is no limit to the number of projects in which a 4-H member may enroll. However, members must achieve each year by meeting the requirements listed in the next paragraph.
Do I have to re-enroll in 4-H?
Yes. Youth and volunteers previously enrolled in 4-H must re-enroll by November 1, 2023. Remember to enroll in Rock County 4-H by logging onto 4-H Online. If you were previously enrolled, please update any changes to phone, email, or address so that your 4-H club and Extension Office have your most current information!
New 4-H members and volunteers may enroll any time and are encouraged to enroll prior to November 1, also.
VOLUNTEER WITH 4-H
What do 4-H Volunteers do?
Please consider sharing your time and talents as an adult 4-H Volunteer! If you are interested in leading a project or activity, or chaperoning an event, becoming a 4-H Volunteer is the first step. The 4-H mission is “Rock County 4-H Volunteers enable youth to develop leadership skills that are useful throughout life through youth empowerment with adults providing guidance and support”.
How do I become a 4-H Volunteer?
Whether you are a new or returning volunteer, you can find an overview of all required 4-H Volunteer trainings here (PDF 124 KB). Click on each training title within the PDF to access each training module.
Rock County 4-H Policy Information
Rock County 4-H Policy (includes Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development Policies) revised April 2017 (pdf)
AmeriCorps Member Opportunity-Whitewater
AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects over 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, health, and homeland security.
[Newsfeed]:
- If you or someone you know is interested in Youth Tractor Safety Courses, please visit the UW-Madison Division of Extension Farm Management website. Currently, there is not an in-person course offered in our area. Please consider enrolling in the Virtual Course, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Mon., July 11-Fri., July 15 with driving exams to be determined. The Wisconsin […]
- Our Positive Youth Development Educators had SO much fun learning while doing around Rock County throughout Hispanic Heritage Month and ending with Day of the Dead. 4-H happens inside our community clubs AND out in the community. Thank you to Hedberg Public Library, Clinton Community Library, Beloit Public Library, YWCA Rock County for a great […]
- Division of Extension Positive Youth Development Educators shared information about Juntos last February, UW-Madison Division of Extension which included planning a series of three pre-college educational sessions specifically tailored to the needs of Latinx youth in Wisconsin. The series was conducted primarily in Spanish with simultaneous translation. Here are the topics: March – Financial Planning for […]
