"I pledge...my hands to larger service, for my club, my community, my country and my world."

For more than 70 years Community Service has been an important part of 4-H.  So has hands-on, learning-by-doing, what we now call experiential learning.   When you put those two ideas together appropriately, the result goes beyond a "feel good" experience: service activities tied closely to what youth are learning positively impact learning, and genuinely help the community.

In 4-H community service-learning, young people learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully organized service experiences that:

• meet community needs.

• are coordinated in a collaborative effort between 4-H and other individuals or groups.

• provide structured reflection time for young people to think, talk, and write about what they experience.

• provide opportunities for young people to apply 4-H project skills and knowledge in real life situations in their own communities.

• help foster a sense of caring for others.

Service-Learning Promotes:

• Education and personal growth

• Active Youth Citizenship

• Workforce Preparation

• Service to Others

• Adult/Youth Partnerships