Civic Engagement and Service Learning

*The Positive Development of Youth: Comprehensive Findings from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development, 2013.

4-H strives to develop young people who are engaged and informed citizens. Through hands-on activities, members learn leadership, empathy, communication, and organization while expanding their role in decision-making processes. With intentional connection to their communities, youth come to understand "the big picture" and their role in civic affairs.

What is civic engagement?

4-H Civic Engagement is the knowledge, skills, attitudes and motivation that give youth the capacity to move beyond ones individual self-interest and to be committed to the well-being of some larger group.

Four Focus Areas of 4-H Civic Engagement:

Community Engagement
Service
Civic Education
Personal Development

	California Focus takes 4-H'ers on a journey through their state's government. Witness California’s government in action by participating in the legislative, political, and judicial processes.
	Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) an educational conference offered at the National 4-H Center near Washington, D.C, gives youth the opportunity to explore, develop, and refine the civic engagement skills they need in order to become outstanding leaders.
	Leadership Washington Focus (LWF), a precursor to CWF, is a 4-H leadership program for youth entering grades 7 through 9. Participants are immersed in the culture and history of our nation through on-site workshops at D.C.’s most spectacular sights.
	See Recommended Civic Engagement Curricula for a wide variety of curricula materials exist for the 4-H mission area of Civic Engagement and Service Learning. See our recommended list.
	Interested in starting a Service Learning Project? Access a comprehensive toolkit designed to help you succeed in your community project.