4-H is a fun, “Learn by Doing" program where participants get to develop skills to lead productive and successful lives. By making the best better, 4-H empowers young people to build confidence and engage with the community.
Everyone is invited to join! 4-H’s inclusive programs, clubs and camps are open to all youth ages 5 to 19, regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, gender or disabilities.
Questions? Contact Wake County 4-H at 919-250-1100 or email us!
Location Features
4-H Summer Camp 2023
Join Wake County 4-H at Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center for a residential, six-day summer camping experience!
June 25-30, 2023. Open to children ages 8-14.
Campers enjoy a week of horseback riding, canoeing, archery, rock wall climbing, swimming, arts & crafts, cookouts, campfires, nature exploration, teambuilding, high ropes and more!
- Traditional Camp: Ages 8-12
- Adventure Camp: Ages 12-14, Rock Climbing Excursion
- Trekker Camp: Ages 12-14, Canoeing Excursion
Summer Programs
Teen Programs
Youth In Transition works with children and youth who are involved with child welfare and/or juvenile court, and those who are homeless. 4-H provides life skill education topics such as financial literacy, independent living, conflict resolution, college preparation and more. Email Carlos Moses at or call 919-250-3977.
Liberation Out Loud is a group for high school students that will support them as they find ways to use their passions and talents to work for collective liberation by showing up for their communities and each other. LOL helps high schoolers connect their passions with opportunities to serve their community and work for social justice. Age High School Contact: Veronica.Dress@wake.gov
Teen Council helps build skills such as leadership, citizenship, communication, financial management and self-resilience. Teens experience working with new, diverse peers through an informal self-governance style. Teen Council members meet monthly to plan and implement 4-H educational programs, as well as community service and social activities. Contact Daniel Bulatek at Daniel.Bulatek@wake.gov or call 919-250-1100.
4-H SPACES
4-H SPACES is a JCPC prevention program that is part of Youth In Transition, which teaches life skills to youth through experiential learning activities. The focus is on communication, critical thinking, decision making and goal setting.
4-H SPACES TOO (16–18-year-olds)
Life skills program designed with individual and group interaction to address realistic and attainable goals for youth ages 16–18 residing in Wake County.
- 14-week group sessions
- Curriculum-based education
- Developing realistic individual goals
- Support to overcome obstacles to accomplish goals
- Transportation provided
- Individual and family needs assessment
- Development positive relationships
- Job readiness
The desired population for 4-H SPACES TOO is youth ages 16–18 residing in Wake County. Referrals will primarily come through Wake County District 10 Juvenile Court Counselors to address the Raise the Age population. These youth may be at any stage of the Juvenile Justice process from Intake to Post Release.
Additional referrals will come through the Wake County Public School System, law enforcement, community-based programs and individual referrals.
Parent involvement is essential for the success of each youth. Parents involved in 4-H SPACES TOO ensure that each child reaches their highest potential. Parents may also submit referrals for their youth.
4-H Clubs
Wake County 4-H Club List
Join the Club!
Click Here for a Printable Version of our Club List
We are delighted you have reached Wake County 4-H clubs and programs. Please contact us anytime for further help getting your child connected to a club, camp or program. Below is a list of current clubs across the county so please contact a leader for details for their meeting days and times to schedule a visit. Copy Emma James on emails to club leaders.
Come Together 4-H Club Raleigh
General community 4-H club that covers community service, public speaking and leadership activities. Open to all ages. Meets monthly in Eastern Wake County.
Age: 8+
Contact: Linda Yon at lfyon@yahoo.com
GIS Mapping 4-H Clubs Various Locations
Youth learn about geographic information systems (GIS) and mapping software. Community service projects are a frequent activity with youth using their technology skills on community impact projects such as mapping food deserts, gathering data for the Youth Thrive mobile app, and more. Club members have the opportunity to compete for spots on the National 4-H GIS Team.
Age: Upper Middle or High School
Contact: Thomas Ray at thomas.ray@wake.gov
Growing Minds 4-H Club Southeast Raleigh
Growing Minds 4-H club is focused on creating learning opportunities in agriculture for youth. Members will participate in activities and service projects that incorporate a variety of topics including animals, gardening, pollinators, and beekeeping. Through these experiences the club will also serve as a space to encourage leadership and public speaking skills in its members. The club is located on 17 acres in Southeast Raleigh where the club garden and beehive are on site."
Age: 5–18
Contact: Gabby Sari at growingminds4h@gmail.com
Halvorsen Family Farm 4-H Club Northern Wake County Youngsville area
Agricultural Science and Horses. The Halvorsen Farm welcomes youth to learn about horses, cattle, goats and much more on the farm. The club is focused on creating learning opportunities in agriculture for youth. Members will participate in activities and service projects that incorporate a variety of topics encouraging leadership and public speaking skills in its members.
Age: 7–18
Contact: Bill Halvorsen at bhalvors@gmail.com
Hi Ho Hunters 4-H Club North Raleigh
Southern Oak Equestrian Club Horse club meeting at the Southern Oak Equestrian Center in North Raleigh. Club membership is limited to youth who take lessons or board at Southern Oak Equestrian Center because of liability restrictions. Club members participate in public speaking and record book projects, as well as community service opportunities.
Age: 5+
Contact: Blair Jackson blair.jackson@gmail.com
Website: https://hihohunters4h.weebly.com/
Happy Hooves 4-H Club Wendell
Horse club in Wendell open to youth with and without horses. Members participate in service projects, learn about horsemanship and have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and so much more.
Age: 5+
Contact: Caitlin Gooch at happyhooves919@gmail.com
Juniper Level 4-H Club South Raleigh/Garner
The Juniper Level 4-H Club is part of the Juniper Level Missionary Baptist Church and encompasses many 4-H topics including STEM, gardening, crafts, arts with 4-H community service projects, public speaking, leadership with an emphasis on developing life skills. They meet monthly.
Ages: 5-18
Contact: Antoinette Ethridge at aethridge0227@gmail.com
Liberation Out Loud 4-H program Raleigh
Liberation Out Loud is a group for high school students that will support them as they find ways to use their passions and talents to work for collective liberation by showing up for their communities and each other. LOL helps high schoolers connect their passions with opportunities to serve their community and work for social justice.
Age: High School
Contact: Veronica Dress at Veronica.Dress@wake.gov
MacNair’s 4-H Club Raleigh
MacNair's 4-H Horse Club focuses on expanding equine knowledge, equine educational contests, animal science and community service. Enrollment is open to any youth.
Age: 5–18
Contact: Kris Lee at macnairs4hclub@gmail.com
Muddybugs 4-H Club Raleigh
Community 4-H club in Raleigh for all youth. The club covers a variety of topics including animals, insects and gardening. The focus is on having fun while learning with friends! Club meets at members’ homes.
Age: 5–18
Contact: Liz Driscoll at liz_driscoll@ncsu.edu
Poultry Pack 4-H Club West Raleigh
The Poultry Pack is youth with an interest in Poultry Science. Members will have an opportunity to study embryology, which will include incubating and hatching eggs, follow their hatched chicks in a basic feeding trial where they will weigh their birds, analyze results and draw conclusions. These birds then may become a backyard flock project for interested 4-H members.
Each year members will have to the opportunity to do presentations at the 4-H egg cookery, chicken and turkey grilling competitions, or poultry production presentations at the district, state, and possibly even national events. Our club members will train and compete on either an Avian Bowl Team or a Poultry Judging Team. The youth may participate in the market turkey show at the NC State Fair. Each year we will do a community service project which will be chosen by the members.
Meetings are the last Friday of every month from 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Age: 5–18
Contact: Mary Fosnaught, Poultry Science 4-H & Youth Extension Specialist, at 919-515-5529 or mhfosnau@ncsu.edu
Rolesville Livestock 4-H Club
The Rolesville livestock 4-H club focuses on raising, preparing and showing livestock for local shows. Members learn animal science, animal husbandry and farm management skills.
Ages 8 and up
Contact: dbeasley@wcpss.net
Wake County 4-H Teen Council Southeast Raleigh
Wake County 4-H Teen Council helps build skills such as leadership, citizenship, communication, financial management and self-resilience. Teens experience working with new, diverse peers through an informal self-governance style. Teen Council members meet monthly to plan and implement 4-H educational programs, as well as community service and social activities.
Contact: Daniel Bulatek at Daniel.Bulatek@wake.gov
Wake County Critters Animal Science and livestock Showing West Raleigh
The Wake County Critters Animal Science 4-H Club will meet monthly. The goals of this club are to: Expand members’ animal science knowledge and skills. Promote members’ connectedness with each other, nature, and animals. Foster members’ development of life skills, including self-confidence, teamwork, money management, animal husbandry, and routine chores.
Ages: 5-18
Contact: Clint Stevenson at clintdstevenson@gmail.com
Wake County Junior Master Gardeners 4-H Clubs West Raleigh
Junior Master Gardeners Youth ages 5–18 meet to learn about plants, wildlife and soil science. The JMG group is composed of several different clubs that meet in one location in different rooms: the Weedbusters 4-H club, Dandelion Paws 4-H Club, Sunflowers 4-H Club. Youth are divided in different rooms for age-appropriate activities. Public speaking is encouraged of all club members. Meetings will be held at the JC Raulston Arboretum.
The address is 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC 27606. Directions to JCRA are available from the jcra.ncsu.edu website. Meetings at the JCRA will be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month.
Age: 5–18
Contact Jason Botts at bottsjw@mac.com
Whale Robotics 4-H Club Raleigh/Cary
Whale Robotics is for high school students serious about learning about robotics and interested in competition.
Age: High School
Contact: Deepti Singhal at deepti.singhal@hotmail.com
Coming Soon!
- New Robotics Club for Wake Forest area Middle and High Schoolers
Ready to Join 4-H?
Register online and get ready for your first 4-H meeting! Please contact the Club Leader to learn more and request to join.
To Register for 4-H:
- Go to https://v2.4honline.com/
- Click “I need to set up a profile”
- Enter your family information
- Add your youth members
Questions? Our 4-H staff is here to help!
Contact: Emma James at 919-210-3868 or emma.james@wake.gov
4h@wake.gov
919-250-1100
Office Location: 4001-E Carya Drive in Raleigh
Important Websites:
To enroll in 4-H: https://v2.4honline.com/
Club List: Wake County 4-H Club List
Wake County Cooperative Extension: https://wake.ces.ncsu.edu/
Wake County Government 4-H: 4-H Youth Development | Wake County Government (wakegov.com)
Wake County 4-H Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wake4h
Wake County Twitter: Wake County 4-H (@wake4h) / Twitter
State 4-H: https://nc4h.ces.ncsu.edu/
National 4-H: https://4-h.org/
4-H YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXKGz7QK7B5Qq9G6IY5omIQ
National Social Media: 4-H (@national4h) • Instagram photos and videos
The 4-H Experience
Kids Build Life Skills Through Hands-On Learning
Kids build life skills by leading hands-on projects in areas like science, health, agriculture and, civic engagement – helping them to grow confidence, independence, resilience, and compassion. Adult mentors provide a positive environment where they learn by doing. This 4‑H experience is delivered by a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation.
Life Skills to Lead
4‑H’s hands-on approach is proven to grow life skills like confidence, independence, resilience and compassion through stages and developed through experiences, not instruction.
The result? Kids who are empowered with the skills to lead for a lifetime.
Hands-On Experiences
More young people need the kind of hands-on, youth-led experiences that 4‑H provides. Experiences where they learn by doing, grow from failure, express their ideas and use their influence to drive positive outcomes. Adult mentors provide guidance, ask questions, share learnings and encourage.
University Backed
4‑H reaches nearly six million young people through Cooperative Extension – a community of more than 100 public universities and 3,000 local offices. Programs are delivered by more than 3,500 4‑H professionals and more than 500,000 volunteers.
The four H's stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health.
Head – Clearer thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, visionary leadership
Heart – Greater loyalty, strong personal valves, positive self-concept, productive family and peer relationships
Hands – Larger service, workforce preparedness, science and technology literacy, community service
Health – Better living, healthy personal lifestyles, promoting environmental stewardship, creating vibrant communities
To Enroll in 4-H