Welcome to Napa 4-H
What is 4-H?
4-H, the largest youth development organization in the nation, helps young people reach their full potential as competent, confident leaders who are connected to and contribute to their communities. UC 4-H serves youth ages 5 to 18 years old throughout California in urban, suburban and rural communities.
Through a hands-on, experiential educational model, 4-H helps youth find their spark, build real world skills, and become resilient, adaptable, lifelong learners. Youth develop skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving while gaining confidence to try new things and learn from experience. No matter their interests, 4-H gives young people the skills they need to thrive and succeed.
In 4-H programs, youth serve in leadership roles where they set goals, develop plans, complete projects, and reflect on their experiences. Youth are encouraged to discover their passions, adopt a growth mindset, and practice self-reflection. 4-H projects and programs focus on agriculture, STEM, leadership, healthy living, and civic engagement.
Handbook for Families in UC 4-H (PDF)
Manual Para Families - Universidad de California 4-H (PDF)
Napa County 4-H Programs
There are multiple ways for youth and families to participate in the Napa County 4‑H Program. Youth can join one or more 4‑H programs, also called delivery modes.
4-H Community Clubs
A 4-H community club is an organized group of youth members, supervised by a team of appointed 4-H adult volunteers, with a planned program that is carried out through all or most of the year. 4-H clubs usually meet regularly in the evenings or on weekends and offer multiple self-chosen project learning experiences and activities. 4-H Clubs generally start in September or October and go until May or June. 4-H Community Clubs in Napa County include 4-Leaf Clovers, American Canyon, Berryessa, Capell Valley, Heart of the Valley (Up Valley), Hunt Hollow, Las Amigas, Napa Ranch Oak & Vine, and Valley Ranchers. Learn how to enroll in a 4-H Community Club and explore available projects.
4-H Overnight Summer Camp
4-H Camp is a week-long overnight camping experience where youth ages 9 & older participate in a variety of educational and recreational activities. 4-H Camp typically occurs in June. Visit the 4-H Summer Camp page for more information.
4-H Short-Term Programs
4-H short-term programs, also called Step Into 4-H, are topic specific programs led by 4-H staff or volunteers. Youth participate in a self-chosen project learning experience that allows them to experience a 4-H project in a topic area that interests them. These programs are a minimum of six hours in length and run no longer than six weeks. Short-Term programs could be weekly projects, day-camps, or one-day skill-building workshops. Short-term programs may be offered any time throughout the 4-H Program Year but often take place in the spring from April-June. 4-H Short-Term Programs that have previously been offered in Napa County include Cloverbud Day Camps, Robotics Camp, and Ag from Above x Ag for All Agriculture Drones, also known as Drone Academy. Visit the 4-H Short-Term Programs page and Ag from Above x Ag for All Agriculture Drone Academy website for more information.
4-H Afterschool Education Programs
Youth receive 4-H curricula or other educational materials during out of school hours programming while under the supervision of afterschool staff. Napa County 4-H currently partners with the Napa Valley Unified School District Expanded Learning Program to offer 6-hours of 4-H Grub Club to 1st-3rd graders and 9-hours of 4-H Cooking Academy to 4th-6th graders to expand young people's culinary skills. Napa County 4-H also collaborates with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Napa Valley on Imagine Science to provide 15-hours of STEM learning to 750 youth annually. Ask your afterschool organization if they partner with Napa County 4-H to learn more!
4-H Teens as Teachers Programs
Teens are coached and supported by 4-H and Expanded Learning adult staff as they work in teams to plan and deliver 4-H lessons to students in an afterschool education setting. Teens receive tangible career readiness training and exposure to workplace standards as they develop workplace skills, leadership skills and confidence, and a sense of service as they contribute to and connect with their community. The Teens as Teachers Program supports the delivery of 4-H Grub Club and 4-H Cooking Academy.
Where does 4-H take place?
4-H Programs take place all across Napa County. Some 4-H projects meet in homes, farms/ranches, the UCCE Napa 4-H Office, schools, and/or local businesses. There are no residency restrictions within Napa 4-H. For example, if you live in the City of Napa, you can join a club in American Canyon. When selecting a club, we recommend prioritizing not only location, but also projects of interest, as project offerings will vary between clubs.
How much does 4-H cost?
The 4-H Youth Membership Fee for 2025-2026 is $62.00 per youth.
The 4-H Adult Volunteer Fee for 2025-2026 is $28.00 per adult.
Enrollment fees allow members to participate in all 4-H delivery modes. However, additional fees may be required to participate in certain projects or events. For example, overnight 4-H summer camp requires an additional registration fee. Other 4-H programs, such as afterschool education programs, may not require a fee to participate. 4-H staff can provide additional information about specific programs and any applicable fees.
UC 4-H is open to all youth, regardless of ability to pay. Fee waivers or reductions are available upon request, subject to funding availability.
Why 4-H?
History
For more than 100 years, 4-H has provided youth with educational programs to promote personal growth and spark new interests. These programs are led by passionate volunteers and 4-H professionals who provide a positive learning environment and develop partnerships with you to nurture leadership skills among 4-H members.
Learning Environment
We strive to create an atmosphere where youth are able to explore knowledge, share ideas, grow skills, and find their passion. Research shows that when youth are engaged and self-direct their own learning, their learning is optimized.
Lasting Impact
For more than 10 years, 4-H has partnered with Tufts University to study the effectiveness of its youth development programs.
4-H Study of Positive Youth Development is a longitudinal study that began in 2002 and was repeated annually for eight years, surveying more than 7,000 adolescents from diverse backgrounds across 42 U.S. states.
The study showed that positive impacts from 4-H Programs lasted long after the youth graduated from 4-H. When compared to non 4-H members, 4-Hers reported increased leadership and public speaking skills, increased likelihood to attend higher education institutions, and increased interest in in STEM programs/careers. Read more about the study here.