4-H Youth Development

4-H Junior Camp is a 5-day event where youth ages 9-13 have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities including ropes courses, canoeing, swimming, archery, outdoor sports and arts and crafts.  Camp dates for 2012 for King George, Caroline and Spotsylvania Counties have not been determined, and we camp at the Northern Virginia 4-H Center near Front Royal, VA.

Counselor and Counselor in Training (CIT) applications are mailed out in early January, due at the end of January, with interviews following in early February.  Camper applications are released in late February, when applications are distributed to the elementary schools in King George County.  Upon receipt of applications, campers are sent a packet containing the forms in the bottom of the sidebar at right.

4-H Congress is for youth ages 14-19 and will be held at Virginia Tech June 18-21, 2012.  We have a King George youth who serves as Cabinet Secretary.  In addition to 4-H State Cabinet elections, Congress Youth Delegates participate in competitions such as Share the Fun (a talent show) and Presentations.  There are also educational programs and group sports competitions.  Congress registration will open in April, 2012.  For more information, visit the Congress page of the 4-H website at http://www.4-h.ext.vt.edu/programs/congress/index.html.

Cloverbud Clubs are for children ages 5-8 who have a common interest they would like to explore.  Clubs are organized similar to 4-H Clubs, with at least 2 leaders and a planned program.  If you or your children are interested, please give me a call, as we would like to start a club this fall!

We have a number of active 4-H clubs in King George County. Please check them out!

Fancy's Friends 4-H Dog Club is a very active club in which club members learn all aspects of dog care, obedience, agility and showmanship.  Members spend many hours training their dogs and compete in several shows each year.  This club has taken top dog at the state show for a number of years, which shows the dedication of the club leaders and members.  To join, sign up early, as there is a waiting list each year. 

2009 Livestock Show

4-H Livestock Club members meet monthly from August until June.  Each year, members purchase an animal to train and care for until the annual Fredericksburg Area Livestock Show and Sale.  Animals are judged, youth are judged on their showmanship abilities, and youth can take a stockman's test on their knowledge of breeds, feeds, equipment and meat cuts.  Youth also have opportunities to participate in stockman's and judging competitions at Virginia Tech and the State Fair.

The King George Horse and Pony Club practices at the F-5-W Stables and teaches specifics of riding/caring for a horse and all the equipment associated for horsemanship and how to use it.  Youth enter competitions at district, state and regional levels and have been very successful at all levels.  We also have Horsin' Around 4-H Club and Horse Enthusiasts Cloverbud group which are both for youth interested in horses but without access to one.  They do horse-related community service projects and field trips.

The Helping Hands Community Club plans and organizes several community service projects throughout the year and engage in Natural Resources Education.  Members focus on being good stewards and learning about the environment.

The Shooting Education Club provides youth with the opportunity to learn the rules of safe and responsible use of firearms and develop concentration and physical control to improve marksmanship.  They participate in numerous competitions as well, and always do very well.

The 4-H Quilt club meets at the Extension Office, where youth are instructed and assisted with making quilt blocks and other sewing projects.  They had a beautiful blue-ribbon-winning quilt at the State Fair, and are hard at work on new projects.

The King George Elementary School Garden Club holds monthly meetings after school.  Youth learn concepts of gardening, horticulture and about the relationships between plants, animals and soil.

The Ecology Club meets twice per month after school at King George Middle School.  The club focus is on conservation of natural resources and educating the public on conservation issues. 

We have 2 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO robotics teams in King George.  The Dahlgren LEGO Engineers 4-H Club meets on the naval base (base access is required) and the Techno Dragons 4-H Club meets at the King George Extension Office.  Both teams compete in FIRST competitions each fall.  Competitions include a research presentation, teamwork evaluation and testing of the team-designed and -programmed robot to complete very specific tasks.

We have a new 4-H Teen Leadership club!  Teens have begun fund-raising and making plans to clean up the beach at Caledon State Natural Area.  In the fall, the group will support the Fall Festival Float preparations and other community service and leadership efforts.

The Heritage Club meets at George Washington's Birthplace National Monument and youth learn how to become living history demonstrators.  There are several opportunities to practice their craft at the birthplace, and youth have opportunities to learn such colonial crafts as blacksmithing and open hearth cooking.