Do you have skills in sewing, photography, wood working, or pet care you’d like to share? If so, you might want to consider becoming a 4-H leader.

Sophie, Martha, and Olivia Enriquez with their 4-H goats at the 2010 Clermont County Fair.
“Right now we are recruiting volunteers to help with clubs across Clermont County,” said Ohio State University Extension Clermont 4-H Program Coordinator Scott Cangro. “We are looking for people who enjoy working with kids and can help them grow. In addition to traditional sewing and cooking projects, today’s 4-H also encompasses math and science projects, art, and 200 other areas. There really is something for everyone.”

Cangro said there are over 900 young people involved in 4-H locally; they have less than 300 adult leaders.

“New volunteers are required to pass a background check and attend a three hour training session,” he said. “It’s really a wonderful program and once you get involved with 4-H you will discover how much fun and how rewarding it can be to give back to your community.”

Children as young as five and in kindergarten as of Jan. 1 can join the 4-H Cloverbud program. “We find that many of our young people continue with the program through the age of 18 or 19,” said Cangro. “I agree with the universal mission statement that says 4-H instills integrity, service, leadership, sense of duty, and personal growth in the youth it serves.”

For more information about the 4-H adult volunteer program, contact Scott Cangro at (513) 732-7070 extension 10. For additional information about the many projects offered in 4-H, visit the Web site www.clermont.osu.edu and click on 4-H Youth Development. More information about 4-H is also available at www.ohio4H.org.