Have you ever wondered if there’s a place for you in 4-H? While many people think 4-H is all about animals and farming, today’s 4-H offers opportunities for youth with a wide range of interests. Whether you’re passionate about STEM, cooking, photography, public speaking, shooting sports, environmental science, or leadership, there’s a place for you in 4-H.
What Is 4-H?
4-H is the youth development program of the land-grant university system. In Florida, that includes the University of Florida and Florida A&M University. Through a hands-on, learn-by-doing approach guided by caring adult volunteers and mentors, 4-H helps young people ages 5 to 18 develop the knowledge, confidence, and life skills they need to become responsible, productive citizens.
At the heart of the program is the 4-H pledge, which reflects the values youth build throughout their 4-H experience:
- Head to clearer thinking by developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Heart to greater loyalty by building positive relationships, compassion, and a sense of belonging.
- Hands to larger service by giving back through community service and helping others.
- Health to better living by making healthy choices and developing lifelong habits that support physical and emotional well-being.
These four H’s serve as the foundation for every 4-H project, activity, and leadership opportunity.
Find Your Community and Discover Your Interests
One of the greatest strengths of 4-H is that there are many ways to get involved. Youth can participate through community clubs, school clubs, short-term special interest (SPIN) clubs, school enrichment programs, after-school clubs, camps, workshops, and more. No matter how you participate, 4-H provides opportunities to meet new friends, connect with caring adults, and become part of a supportive community.
4-H also encourages youth to explore their interests through a variety of project areas. Members can choose projects that match their passions while developing valuable life skills such as communication, responsibility, leadership, teamwork, and decision-making.
Project areas include:
- Animal Science
- STEM and Robotics
- Environmental Science
- Gardening
- Public Speaking
- Healthy Living
- Shooting Sports
- Food and Nutrition
- Photography
- Leadership and Citizenship
- And many more!
Whether you’re raising livestock, designing a robot, growing a garden, or learning to give a speech, every 4-H project is designed to help youth learn by doing while having fun.
Join Brevard County 4-H
Open enrollment for the 2026–2027 4-H year begins August 1, and Brevard County 4-H is excited to welcome new and returning members.
Families interested in learning more are invited to attend our Brevard County 4-H Open House on Saturday, August 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County Office, located at 3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa, FL.
This is a great opportunity to:
- Meet local 4-H club leaders and volunteers.
- Explore the many project areas available.
- Learn about clubs and programs offered throughout Brevard County.
- Ask questions and discover which opportunities are the best fit for your family.
Interested families are encouraged to register for the event through Eventbrite.
There’s a Place for You
Whether you join because you love animals, enjoy science, want to make new friends, or simply want to try something new, 4-H has a place for you. The best way to discover where you belong is to get involved, stay curious, and embrace new experiences.
Along the way, you’ll develop skills that last a lifetime, build meaningful friendships, and gain the confidence to tackle new challenges. You may even discover passions and opportunities that shape your future in ways you never imagined.
We hope you’ll join us this year and experience everything Brevard County 4-H has to offer. We can’t wait to welcome you into the 4-H family!
Portions of this story were created or edited using generative AI.
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