Families

Michigan 4-H Youth Development is committed to providing children aged 5 to 19 with opportunities through 4-H that will:

• Give them skills they can use for a lifetime.
• Help them learn in ways that are appropriate for their developmental stage.
• Help them learn to make friends and work as a team.
• Allow them to experience the value of diversity.
• Offer an emotionally and physically safe learning environment for their educational development.
• Help them grow as citizens through leadership development and service to their communities.

These outcomes for your child are what drive the guiding principles of Michigan 4-H Youth Development programming. (Refer to the 4-H Participant Age Policy document for more information on the different opportunities available for children of different ages.

Opportunities for Families to Learn Together

Michigan 4-H Youth Development offers many opportunities for families to learn and play together. The primary adults in young people’s lives can serve as 4-H volunteers by organizing and leading a 4-H club. 4-H provides learning resources to help support family interests as well as local, state, national and international events that offer learning opportunities for the whole family.

In addition to 4-H youth development experiences, MSU Extension offers information and programs designed to help families manage a variety of life and home issues.

4-H’s Commitment to Your Child’s Safety

Because Michigan 4-H Youth Development is committed to providing opportunities that are emotionally and physically safe for your child, we have a Michigan State University Extension Volunteer Selection Process and Michigan 4-H Youth-Adult Housing Policy for 4-H Overnight Events for adults who work with children through 4-H.