UNITED WAY AGENCY PROFILE

CHATHAM COUNTY 4-H: Empowering youths

4-H’ers learn by doing through enrichment, training

Posted

Editor’s note: this is one of a series of profiles of Chatham County nonprofits served by the United Way of Chatham County, which is in the process of finishing its annual fundraising campaign. For more on the United Way or to donate toward this year’s goal, please go to https://unitedwayofchathamcounty.org.

Program: 4-H School Enrichment, Club Leadership, Camping, and Special Interest Programming

Reach: about 2,300 youths annually

What we do: Our mission is to assist youth in acquiring the knowledge, life skills, and attitudes that will enable them to become empowered members of society.

How we do it: The central theme of a 4-H education is the “learn by doing” opportunity. Youth have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities, from county-based experiences to national competitions, including public speaking, camping, workshops, livestock shows, and STEM school enrichment projects.

Our impact in Chatham: Each year, 4-H serves approximately 2,400 youth through school enrichment, camping, special interest, and community club programming. Youth gain invaluable life skills, leadership training, and technical skills that they can use to improve themselves and their communities.

How we measure success: Measuring youth learning outcomes, especially in the areas of science, healthy living, civic engagement, and college/career readiness, is a critical first step for us to determine the impact of 4-H on youth, and we see those successes in and outside of the classroom here in Chatham.

Our biggest challenge right now: More so than ever, there is a tremendous need to get youth involved in programming to provide them with essential life skill development in safe, nurturing environments. We need the kind assistance of community members to act in volunteer roles to help mentor and support youth throughout Chatham.

Year founded: 1909

Staff: 2

Director: Dr. Ginger Cunningham, County Extension Director and Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development & Forestry

Coordinates: 1192 US Hwy 64W Business, Suite 400, Pittsboro, NC 27312; 919-542-8202.

On the web: https://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu