School-Based 4-H Programming
In-School Programs
Would you like your students to gain hands-on experience corresponding with state standards alongside what they’re learning in your classroom? Request a program to encourage learning through hands-on activities.
4-H provides opportunities to enhance daily programming in subject matter areas with an extensive variety of interactive, hands-on learning from curricula developed by a system of land grant universities. Some enrichment areas include: science, gardening, environmental education, arts and crafts, photography, and much more.
See Program Offerings by Topic to customize your in-school program needs.
After-School Programs
Do you have a handful of students who are interested in S.T.E.A.M. (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math) or leadership development? Or do you have students who struggle to engage with what is being taught in the classroom?
The 4-H After-School Program offers a variety of hands-on activities designed to engage students and increase learning. We also provide leadership training for school groups, such as student counsels. See Program Offerings by Topic to customize your after-school program.
Community and Summer 4-H Programs
Youth Enrichment at a Community Center
If your local library, recreation center, or other youth facility needs quality youth engagement, 4-H youth development programming could be the right fit to deliver educational, hands-on activities to the youth in your community. Most of these programs are open to the public! Check out our current programs offered at Denver Public Library and Denver Parks and Recreation.
Summer Programs
Is your school or community center looking for programming over the summer? Denver 4-H can collaborate with existing summer programs to offer an array of engaging activities to your campers! See Program Offerings by Topic to learn more.
4-H Club Programs
A 4-H club is a group of youth (ages 5-18) with similar interests who meet to learn a new skill in a 4-H project area and have fun. They can be neighbors, friends, or even family members. Each club needs two adult volunteer leaders and members pay an annual fee of $40 (includes State 4-H fee, insurance, and project curriculum). The club determines when, where, and how often they will meet and what projects they will work on. Learn more about starting a 4-H club program.
Annual fee scholarships are available. For more information and to apply please contact us or visit Colorado 4-H.
There are currently no active 4-H clubs in the City and County of Denver. But we want to change that with your help!
How to start a 4-H Club
Starting a 4-H club can be tricky but Denver 4-H youth development agents are available to help. Check out our resources and contact us if you have any questions. Creating a new 4-H club requires the following:
- Establish recommended membership of at least five youth from at least two different families.
- Establish a minimum of two adult volunteers who have completed their application process, background check, and orientation.
- Determine youth officers for the club.
- Create a club constitution, bylaws, and written plan of activities.
- Review 4-H code of conduct and youth development program policies.
- Plan a yearly schedule of regular club meetings.
- Complete charter documents and applications.
Visit Colorado 4-H for more info.
Denver Area 4-H Program Offerings by Topic
Denver County can support more than 25 different youth programs ranging from engineering to gardening to cake decorating.
Natural Resources
In these lessons, students will explore and gain awareness and appreciation of wildlife, habitats, and ecological systems while discovering solutions to environmental issues. Topics may cover water quality, renewable resources and energy, wildlife management, citizen science, earth composition, and other environmental concepts.
Engineering
Students will gain an understanding of what engineers do, the engineering design process, and how different materials can be shaped to provide increased strength and stability.
Computer Science / Coding
Students in this unit can participate in a number of activities designed to enhance important skills, including: pattern recognition, logic, problem solving, and creativity. In addition to activities, the facilitator will discuss career opportunities that use computer science skills.
Embryology
In the Denver Extension Embryology Program, we bring agriculture to the classroom via lessons that teach how an egg becomes a chicken. We learn about embryos, parts of an egg, and how chickens are important for both egg and meat production.
Rocketry
Students will work in teams to design, create, test, and launch their own rockets while also expanding their understanding of science variables. Stomp, water, and straw rockets are available in this unit.
Entomology
Students in this unit will learn the characteristics that help classify insects, arachnids, and other arthropods. We will explore classification, anatomy, habitats, and more.
Magnets and Electricity
Students will identify ways in which an electrical charge can be created, name ways in which electricity can be created and stored, create a simple circuit, know what similar charges repel and opposite charges attract, and know that magnets have polarity. For each indicator, there is a related activity/experiment, all of which have varying time duration.
Sounds of Science
Students will gain a better understanding of how sound is produced and perceived, as well as explore different ways that sound may travel.
Detective Science
Students will develop a better understanding of how science is used to solve crimes and other mysteries. Through a variety of activities, students will have the chance to perform the jobs of both crime scene technicians and forensic scientists as they collect and process evidence to determine which suspects have the most evidence against them.
Living in Space
By engaging in a series of activities, students will gain a better understanding of how human beings and other living organisms require specific environments to survive. Topics include gravity, food in space, colonizing another planet, and more.
Oeey, Gooey Science
In this unit, students can participate in a number of hands-on activities that focus on increasing knowledge about the properties of matter as well as chemical reactions. Slime is a popular activity in this unit!
Chemistry
Though a variety of hands-on experiments, students will increase their knowledge in the structure, composition, and properties of matter.
Animal Science / Pre-Vet
Students learn about and explore various animals, including cats, dogs, pigs, sheep, lizards, and much more. Youth learn about animal anatomy, nutrition, diseases and injuries, and how to properly take care of a variety of animals.
Exploring Agriculture in the Classroom
Youth will explore and learn the important role agriculture and ranching play in Colorado, the United States, and globally. Students will learn where their food comes from and how agriculture and ranching provide us with many of our everyday products.
Food Science
In this unit, students will learn about the physical, biological, and chemical makeup of various food groups. Topics include but are not limited to food classification, ice cream making, and more.
Healthy Cooking / Nutrition
Students will learn important kitchen life skills in this unit. Together, students will chop, measure, and prepare a healthy meal from scratch and learn the nutritional components.
Cake Decorating
Students will become artists and bakers who work to make cakes that are both visually appealing and delicious. In addition to creativity, this activity emphasizes the need for attention to detail, the ability to understand measurements, and even science!
Art
In this unit, we bring various forms of art to students. Units can include any of the following: ceramics, painting, watercolor, drawing, paper mache, origami, mandalas, jewelry making, and more. Youth plan out their project and work on completing their masterpiece.
Photography / Filmmaking
In this unit, youth will explore important concepts in photography or filmmaking. In photography, students will take portrait, landscape, and object photos while manipulating light, compositions, and exposures. For filmmaking, youth will learn how to write a script, draw a storyboard, film, act, direct, edit, and screen their films.
Puppetry
In this unit, youth will explore and learn the art of puppetry. Using various materials (mostly recycled and repurposed) and methods, youth create and learn about storytelling, playwriting, and the manipulation of hand puppets and marionettes.
Career Pathways
In this program, youth will learn important facets and tools to help them land their dream job. Youth will explore various careers and discuss their future career goals. Topics include resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, appropriate work attire, social media, and elevator speeches.
Financial Literacy
Youth learn the importance of managing money in this unit. We incorporate various forms of math and ‘ramp’ all of these lessons to scaffold for younger grades and challenge older grades. Topics include balancing a checkbook, budgeting, the importance of saving, and making safe choices with credit and debit cards.
Civic Engagement
In this unit, youth learn about advocacy, explore and research important problems in their community, come up with their OWN solutions, and discover the impact they can have in making a difference.
Outdoor Education
Students in this unit will learn about outdoor survival skills and participate in a number of activities, such as knot tying, compass navigation, map reading, tent and tarp building, outdoor cooking, and ‘Leave No Trace.’ Hiking and camping can be included as an additional field trip.
Gardening
In this unit, we aim to connect youth to the nature of growing food and agricultural sustainability. Youth will learn where their food comes from, what plants need to grow, and how food gets to their plate. Topics includes soil science, plant science, culinary skills, and nutrition.
Sport Fishing
Students in this program will learn various elements of fishing. Topics include fishing knots, hooks and lures, casting techniques, parts of a rod, identifying local fish, fishing license rules, fishing ethics, fileting, nutrition, and cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
The diverse curricula are based on research coming from Colorado State University. Denver Extension has unique access to materials and expertise from our land-grant university regarding the mental, physical, social and emotional development of young people, and works to connect those resources to youth in our community.
The cost for Denver County 4-H to deliver programming at partnering locations is dependent on the number of youth and the type of program being delivered. An agreement is made between Denver County Extension and our partners prior to the start of programming. Costs help cover materials and supplies for hands-on learning, such as crafting materials, embryology incubators, gardening supplies, etc. For more information on specific program costs and an estimate, please contact one of our 4-H youth development agents.
All programs are overseen and facilitated by Denver 4-H Extension staff, AmeriCorps 4-H STEM members, and official volunteer leaders. All AmeriCorps 4-H STEM members and volunteers are required to undergo a background check and training prior to working with youth.
Make a difference in a kid’s life today! We are always seeking youth-friendly, organized, flexible, adult leaders to help kids learn and grow through fun, hands-on learning projects. Training is provided and we have a variety of volunteer opportunities and commitments.
Explore our volunteer page for more information or contact us to start the process.