ARIZONA 4-H YOUTH FOUNDATION

The University of Arizona 4-H Youth Development program provides quality youth education by building positive relationships and life skills. We develop competence, caring and actively engaged citizens who strengthen Arizona communities. 4-H is for all youth, ages 5-19, who have fun, learn new skills, and explore the world. Kids 5-8 join Cloverbuds, a non-competitive, fun introduction to many projects available through 4-H. Youth ages 8-19 participate in 4-H by enrolling in projects and joining a club. In 4-H, young people make new friends, develop new skills, become leaders and help shape their communities. Youth have the opportunity to participate in 4-H experiences that strengthen a young persons sense of belonging, generosity, independence, and mastery. The 4-H Foundation created and implemented the Great 8 pathways in 2020-2021 covering the areas of agriculture, camp/outdoors, civic engagement, community service, cultural understanding, leadership, healthy living, and STEM. These pathways cross over all events, program and projects in 4-H and enable the Foundation to talk with donors in a more robust and inclusive way. Arizona 4-H Youth also go places--to camp, to state and national conferences and even on international cultural immersion exchanges. They learn to be leaders, active citizens and citizen scientists. In 4-H clubs, they serve as officers and learn to conduct meetings, handle club funds, and facilitate group decision-making. In a growing number of communities, 4-H Youth serve as youth representatives in municipal or county government or as members of teen courts. They give back to their communities. 4-H members are involved in volunteer projects to protect the environment, mentor younger children, and help people who are less fortunate. 4-H clubs and affiliated organizations derive their tax-exempt status under the Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation. They do not have a tax existence outside of the Foundations umbrella, and for tax purposes are treated as programs of the Foundation. Accordingly, all revenues, expenses, and assets of these clubs and affiliated organizations are reported on the Foundations Form 990.

STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Through hands-on projects and activities, 4-H youth learn life skills while pursuing an area that sparks their interest, such as robotics, drones, underwater ROV, coding, and cross-reality.