National 4-H Council is the national, private sector non-profit partner of 4-H and the Cooperative Extension Service. They have developed a series of programs and curricula focusing on environmental education, environmental stewardship, earth sciences, plants and animals, and science and technology to be used in an after-school or out-of-school setting. Some of the curricula within the Environment program include "Going Places, Making Choices", "Energizing Your Future with Energy, Economics and the Environment", "Cycling Back to Nature with Food Production and Pesticides", and Cycling Back to Nature: Soils Alive From Tiny Rocks to Compost". 4-H is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States with more than 6.8 million participants. It serves youth through a variety of methods including organized clubs, school-enrichment groups, special interest groups, individual study programs, camps, school-age child care programs, and instructional television programs. 4-H also has other opportunities for taking students in your After School Program to 4-H local, county, or state fairs or field trips.

National 4-H Council focuses on grades preK-12.

Since students have a strong natural interest in the outdoors, understanding about ecosystems, natural resources, aquatic systems, and respecting living things is an effective way to create broader environmental knowledge.

• Improves science learning;
• Provides experiences in service learning;
• Can be used in conjunction with current school curriculum;
• Can be adapted to fit any region or locale;
• Gives youth hands-on real world experiences that reinforce the lessons learned during the school day;
• Helps students develop life-long habits of active citizenship and environmental stewardship;
• Assists youth in developing knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to become productive and contributing members of society;
• Fosters leadership skills that allow youth to work as full partners with others to develop creative, community-based solutions to difficult environmental challenges;
• Impacts youth from all ethnic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds who live in rural, suburban, and urban communities.

The National 4-H Council has a series of programs and curricula focusing on environmental stewardship. Environmental stewardship is the concept of teaching young people how to proactively serve their communities as conservators and protectors of the environment. The specific goals of the Environmental Stewardship program for the National 4-H Council include: understanding ecological concepts, building an awareness of environmental issues and values, developing scientific investigatory and critical thinking skills, and learning skills needed for effective action. Each piece of the Environmental Stewardship program features hands-on, developmentally appropriate activities designed to develop critical thinking and leadership skills.

Teachers have described the National 4-H Council as a dynamic, nonformal, educational program for today's young people.

The National 4-H Council was honored in February 2002 with an initiative by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman to encourage mentorship by becoming a volunteer leader to 4-H students and establishing a K-6 language and fine arts school program with 4-H members after school. 4-H was also mentioned in the February 2002 edition of Working Mother magazine. Other awards to members of 4-H include a group of 4-H students in Iowa winning the National Science Contest Grand Prize in March 2001 and 4-Her's were also honored with the Prudential Spirit of Community Award in February 2001.

To join 4-H, contact your local Cooperative Extension Office, which is listed in your local telephone book under County Government. Your County Extension 4-H Agent can tell you what 4-H clubs are available in your neighborhood and what projects they offer. There is little to no cost for becoming a member of 4-H, but there is a cost for the publications. "Going Places, Making Choices" is $9.95 and the 3 other publications are $1-$5 each. To order any publications, call the National 4-H Supply Service at 301-961-2934. For general questions about the National 4-H Council, send an e-mail to info@fourhcouncil.edu or go to http://www.fourhcouncil.edu.