4-H Youth Development
4-H Youth Development
4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global society. 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.
What is 4-H?
4-H Youth Development is part of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. Extension’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens through non-formal education for the entire family. Extension agents and volunteers take the results of university research and explain it in such a way that different age groups can learn and apply the information to their own lives. Kentucky 4-H believes in providing positive youth development experiences that all youth to experience belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity.
4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global society. 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults. The four H's represent the idea of Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. These are the values members work on through fun and engaging programs.
Head Managing, Thinking
Heart Relating, Caring
Hands Giving, Working
Health Being, Living
How does 4-H benefit youth?
4-H’ers, regardless of their background, socio-economic status, race or gender, benefit from their participation in Kentucky 4-H. Positive youth development studies have affirmed that compared to other youth, young people involved in 4-H are:
- Four times more likely to contribute to their communities.
- Two times more likely to be civically active.
- Two times more likely to make healthier lifestyle choices.
- Two times more likely to participate in Science, Engineering and Computer Technology programs during out-of-school time.
- 4-H girls are two times more likely (Grade 10) and nearly three times more likely (Grade 12) to take part in science programs compared to girls in other out-of-school time activities.
Additional Information
4-H Newsletters
Coming Soon!
If you registered for 4-H Camp, below are the Orientation Meeting dates:
(Reminder: Camper and a guardian must attend one.
The meetings are held at the Caldwell County Extension Office.)
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Monday, May 11 at 6 pm
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Friday, May 29 at 2 pm
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Saturday, June 6 at 9 am
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Thursday, June 11 at 10 am
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference for youth grades 9-12 will be held on June 2-5, 2026.
The cost is $300 (cash or check only). $150 is due on April 16. Full payment is due on May 15.
If the youth delegate cancels no refund will be issued.
Come to the Caldwell County Extension Office to register.
4-H Teen Conference is held on the University of Kentucky campus, giving teens the chance to experience college life firsthand while participating in leadership workshops, service projects, meeting new people and more.
For more information, contact Rhonda Jewell at 270-365-2787 or by email rjewell@uky.edu.
4-H Air-Dry Clay Workshop for ages 9 and up.
April 21 and May 5 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
This workshop will be held at the Caldwell County Extension Office.
Register at the Caldwell County Extension Office.
It will take 2 classes to complete the project!
Learn how to make a pinch pot or trinket tray!
First class will be learning about clay and how to pinch pots and trinket trays are made!
Second class we will paint and seal our masterpiece!
Please wear clothes that you do not care about if they get a little messy!
Preorder a meal by April 24 at 3 pm.
Meal includes: tenderloin sandwich, chips, homemade brownie, and water.
Price of meal is $8 or purchase a tenderloin sandwich only for $6.
Call 270-365-2787 to place an order.
The meal must be picked up at the Caldwell County Extension Office on Tuesday, May 5, between 11 am and 12:30 pm.
Proceeds go to support the Caldwell County 4-Her's going to 4-H Camp.
For more information contact Rhonda Jewell by calling 270-365-2787 or by email rjewell@uky.edu.
A Babysitting Clinic will be held on Saturday, May 16th from 9 am until 3 pm at the Caldwell County Extension Office.
This clinic is for youths in 6th to 12th grade. The cost is $5 (cash or check only). Lunch will be provided.
Participants will learn how to provide loving, safe, and reliable childcare. They will be taught about the business of babysitting, how children develop, given entertainment ideas, tips on how to communicate with parents, and help with snack planning.
Limited space is available.
Please register and pay at the Caldwell County Extension Office.
For more information call 270-365-2787 and ask to speak with Ashley Board or Rhonda Jewell.
This contest is open to children in grades K-12 who are residents of Caldwell County.
Young artists are encouraged to think creatively about how agriculture shows up in their daily lives and communities in Caldwell County, then draw and color in their county outline. Each University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension county office will select one winning entry to be featured in a special display at the 2026 Kentucky State Fair.
The deadline to turn in entries is Friday, May 15. Finished coloring sheets can be turned in at the school office or at the Caldwell County Extension Office located at 1025 US Hwy 62 W in Princeton, KY 42445.
Contact Rhonda Jewell by calling 270-365-2787 for more information.
Download Coloring Sheet or pick up a coloring sheet at the Caldwell County Extension Office.
4-H Cloverbud Camp for children 5-8 years old will be held on July 24-26, 2026, at the West Kentucky 4-H Camp in Dawson Springs, KY.
An adult must attend camp with the child.
Cost for each child is $170 and cost for each adult or teen is $160.
Total cost for one child and one adult is $330.
Please register and pay (cash or check only) at the Caldwell County Extension Office.
Deadline to register is May 21.
For more information, please contact Rhonda Jewell by phone at 270-365-2787 or by email rjewell@uky.edu.
Visit our 4-H Facebook Page by choosing any picture!
Upcoming Club Meetings
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4-H Cloverbuds: Last meeting April 16th at 3:30 p.m.
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4-H Homeschool: Last meeting April 17th at 11 a.m.
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Jr Homemakers: April 21st at 10 a.m.
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4-H Craft Club: Last Meeting April 29th at 3:30 p.m.
Kathryn Eldridge
Extension Assistant, 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Science
(270) 365-2787 kathryn.eldridge@uky.edu Caldwell County Extension Office 1025 US Hwy 62 W, Princeton, Kentucky 42445-6059Rhonda K. Jewell
Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development
(270) 365-2787 rjewell@uky.edu Caldwell County Extension Office 1025 US Hwy 62 W, Princeton, Kentucky 42445-6059