Families get ready to take a ride around Johnny Wilson Farm during fall 2021.

Youth ages 5-18 are invited to participate in 4-H this fall and winter. In addition to our local 4-H Clubs, some special events are planned to help us connect, learn and have fun together!

Youth need to enroll in 4-H Online prior to attending in-person 4-H programs. Enrollment is free. Please check for event registrations below as they become available for more details.

Summary of Local Events this Fall/Winter

• September 27: Countywide 4-H Service Project from 4-5 p.m. in celebration of National 4-H Week, which is October 2-8 (Lenoir, NC)
• September 28: Wildlife Habitat Education Program meetings begin (Lenoir, NC)
• October 14: 4-H STEM Night with Ocean Explorers of the Deep (Hudson, NC)
• October 28: 4-H Night at the Farm from 6-8 p.m. hosted by Livestock 4-H Club – all 4-H members are welcome (Granite Falls, NC)
• October 20-November 8: Kids Voting (Anywhere, USA)
• December 6: Interest meeting for new club (Lenoir, NC)
• December 10: Holiday Crafts (Lenoir, NC)

All events are free to attend with the exception of the 4-H STEM Night. The cost for that event is $15 per child. More details about each event, including registration information, are provided below.

Countywide 4-H Service Project – registration optional

In early celebration of National 4-H Week, which is October 2-8, all 4-H members in Caldwell County are invited to participate in a service project with United Way starting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27.

We will assemble food packages for a local backpack program. To help us estimate attendance, families can register on Eventbrite. (Youth and families can also attend without registering.)

Wildlife Habitat Education Program – no registration

The Wildlife Habitat Education Program or WHEP is a an environmental education program for youth ages 8-18. The first meeting on September 28 at 4 p.m. in Lenoir at the Caldwell County Meeting Rooms (below the library) will serve as an interest meeting for the program.

Because this is an in-person 4-H program, youth will need to be enrolled in 4-H Online to regularly participate. Otherwise, there is not a registration for the meetings. WHEP will meet monthly through the fall and winter and then biweekly in the spring prior to the annual NC WHEP contest.

Current fall schedule:

• September 28 from 4-5 p.m. (Caldwell County meeting rooms)
• October 19 from 4-5 p.m. (Caldwell County meeting rooms)
• November 9 from 4-5 p.m. (YMCA Camp Harrison)

STEM activities were developed by a team of educators and oceanographers in the Department of Marine Sciences and the Department of 4-H Youth Development at Rutgers University.

4-H STEM Night with Ocean Explorers of the Deep – register on Eventbrite

Calling all ocean explorers! Youth ages 8-14 can attend a themed STEM Night on campus at CCC&TI October 13 from 6-8 p.m. The 2022 4-H STEM challenge teaches youth about the interconnected nature between the ocean and humans.

4-H Night at the Farm – RSVP to club leaders

All enrolled 4-H’ers and are invited to attend 4-H Night at the Farm at Johnny Wilson Farm’s Pumpkin Patch on October 28 in the evening. Be sure to check in as you arrive. This event is hosted by the Livestock 4-H Club.

Kids Voting – no registration

This program is designed to empower young people to develop civic skills, learn about voting and participate in an election. It is non-partisan. We will use real candidates and cast votes, just like a real election. 

Voting will open online on October 20, and close on Election Day (November 8) at 7 p.m. 

(See results of the Kids Voting elections below, or request a PDF copy of the results by emailing sarah_kocher@ncsu.edu.)

Interest meeting for new 4-H Club – RSVP to Sarah Kocher

Families are invited to an interest meeting for a new 4-H Club in Caldwell County on Tuesday, December 6 at  6 p.m. at the Caldwell County Meeting Rooms, which are below the library in Lenoir.

The new club will be especially for ages 5-7. (Young people ages 8-9 can attend, but activities will be prepared for the younger age range.) In 4-H, this beginning age range is endearingly referred to as “Cloverbuds.”

Families do not have to currently be involved in 4-H to attend the interest meeting. All are welcome!

We are so excited to have a new volunteer starting this club for local youth! Please RSVP by replying to this email or contacting 4-H Agent Sarah Kocher at sarah_kocher@ncsu.edu. Questions and RSVPs can also be directed to 828-757-1258.

Holiday Crafts – registration on Eventbrite

Holiday Crafts will be hosted by Caldwell County 4-H in Lenoir at the Caldwell County Meeting Rooms (below the library) on December 10 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Families with youth ages 5-18 are welcome to attend.

North Carolina grown trees make Christmas a little brighter for millions of homes. (Credit Seth Nagy)

Accommodations

We will be happy to work with you to accommodate your child’s needs. Accommodation requests related to a disability can be best served if they are made at least three weeks prior to an event to Sarah Kocher at 828-757-1258 or sarah_kocher@ncsu.edu.

If transportation needs are communicated at least three weeks prior to a program, 4-H will work to discuss options with parents. Some programs allow more flexibility to accommodate transportation than others. This is not offered every year. Again, contact Sarah Kocher directly to discuss this.

To learn more about Caldwell County 4-H, view the information page on our website.