4H

4-H is a U.S. youth development organization that uses a hands-on, project-based approach to help young people develop life skills. It operates as part of the Cooperative Extension System and is administered primarily by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with state and local extension offices delivering programs through 4-H clubs and School partnerships. Participants are typically youth ages 5 to 18, though programs may vary by region. The organization is known for the slogan learn by doing and for emphasizing practical, experiential learning.

History: 4-H originated in the early 20th century as a rural youth club movement connected to land-grant universities and extension services. The program adopted the four Hs—head, heart, hands, and health—and the four-leaf clover emblem, with the 4-H pledge established in the early decades of the 1900s. The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 helped formalize extension work and contributed to 4-H's national spread.

Programs: 4-H focuses on science, health, agriculture, citizenship, and civic engagement, delivered through hands-on projects such as robotics, nutrition, animal science, gardening, and environmental stewardship. Local clubs, school-based groups, camps, and fairs provide opportunities for leadership, teamwork, public speaking, and service. The program emphasizes youth leadership and community involvement within a framework aligned with university extension resources.

Pledge and emblem; impact: The 4-H pledge emphasizes thinking clearly (head), loyalty (heart), service (hands), and better living (health). The four-leaf clover emblem is the symbol of the movement. 4-H has reached millions of youth and is associated with positive outcomes in academic achievement, STEM interest, leadership, and community involvement, remaining one of the largest non-formal youth development programs in the United States.