Virginia 4-H

Virginia 4-H is the youth development education program of Virginia Cooperative Extension. It offers learn-by-doing activities, clubs, camps, and events. Youth ages 5 to 19 can take part, with Cloverbud groups for ages 5 through 8 and clubs for ages 9 through 18.

Programs

• Virginia 4-H — Youth ages 5 to 19; Cloverbud groups for youth 5 through 8 years of age; community/project/in-school/after-school/school enrichment/special interest clubs for ages 9 through 18 · The youth development education program of Virginia Cooperative Extension. 4-H offers learn-by-doing activities, clubs, camps, and events.
• Community 4-H clubs — 9 through 18 years of age · Meet 9 to 12 months of the year · Offer a variety of 4-H projects for their members and generally meet in homes or public buildings.
• Project 4-H clubs — 9 through 18 years of age · Meet 9 to 12 months of the year · Focus on a single 4-H project or subject matter area.
• In-school 4-H clubs — 9 through 18 years of age · Meet during school hours · Are approved by the school system and have elected youth officers.
• After-school 4-H clubs — 9 through 18 years of age · Meet after school hours, usually from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. · Meet in a school or public building, use 4-H materials, and may or may not have elected youth officers.
• 4-H School Enrichment clubs — 9 through 18 years of age · Meet during school hours · Designed to strengthen members’ knowledge of school subject-matter areas, complimenting what the school is teaching.
• Special Interest 4-H groups — 9 through 18 years of age · Short-term learning experiences designed to create interest in a subject matter area, learn about 4-H, and have no elected youth officers.
• Cloverbud 4-H groups — 5 through 8 years of age · Introduced to 4-H through special learning activities designed for their age group. There are no elected youth officers and no competitive events.
• 4-H camping — Youth 5 through 18 years of age; residential Junior 4-H camps require youth to turn 9 between October 1 and September 30 of the following year and not have reached 14 years of age; teens 14 to 18 years of age may be trained as camp counselors · Offers residential, special interest, day, and Cloverbud camps at Virginia’s six 4-H educational centers.

At a glance

• Ages: 5–18 years old

About the provider

Virginia 4-H is the youth development education program of Virginia Cooperative Extension. Young people are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities that emphasize 4-H's "learning by doing" philosophy of youth development. Virginia's 4-H camping program is recognized throughout the nation as a leader in 4-H camping programs, and each of the six Virginia 4-H Educational Centers has achieved and maintains American Camp Association accreditation. 4-H members pledge to build a better community, country, and world.

Youth ages 5 through 18 includes youth who will turn five during the 4-H year (October 1 through September 30). Eligibility for 4-H membership terminates on December 31 of the year the member has his or her 19th birthday. 4-H camp is open to any youth in Virginia; youth do not have to be 4-H members to attend. Adults have opportunities to volunteer through their local Virginia Cooperative Extension office and are carefully screened and trained before serving as camp volunteers.

Last updated October 26, 2026.