We teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities.

Washington County 4-H Discovery Day: November 12

Mark your calendars and register today!

  • WHO: All 4th grade & older Washington County 4-H Members, 4-H Leaders, and Parents
  • WHEN: Saturday, November 12, 2022 from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Doors open at 8:30)
  • WHERE: Washington County Fair Park Pavilion
  • COST: $15.00 (Checks payable to: Washington County 4-H Leaders Association)

*REGISTRATION FORM MUST BE POSTMARKED BY OCTOBER 26*

Session Descriptions

Registration form

Sessions will include

  • Archery & Air Rifle Range & Wildlife Activities
  • Balanced Asymmetry Wrap
  • Basket Weaving
  • Collage Journals
  • Create with Pinecones
  • Faux Book Stack Decor
  • Faux Stained Glass Ornaments
  • Glass Etching
  • Holiday Garland
  • Intro to Leathercraft
  • Macrame Bracelet
  • Mystery Project
  • Needle-felting
  • Pinecone Ornament
  • Rag Rug — Coaster Style
  • Rock Painting
  • Tower Block Crafts

    • 4-H Achievement & Recognition Night is Saturday, October 15, 2022

    It is time to celebrate our 4-H members and volunteers! Achievement & Recognition Night is an annual event held to recognize the accomplishments of our 4-H’ers and the service of our 4-H volunteers. We are so proud of the hard work and dedication of our members and volunteers!!

    Achievement & Recognition Night will be held at the Washington County Fair Park, 3000 Pleasant Valley Rd, West Bend, on Saturday, October 15 at 6:00pm.

    All 4-H families are invited to attend. Please RSVP by October 6: https://go.wisc.edu/1a1np2

    Register Today for Wisconsin 4-H Arts Camp!

    Are you a middle schooler looking for an opportunity to explore the arts through 4-H? If so, you don’t want to miss Wisconsin 4-H Arts Camp! This state-level experience offers one place for youth grades 6-8 to learn about topics like music, drama, visual arts, photography, communications, and more! 4-H Arts Camp takes place 9:00 AM, October 22 – 2:30 PM, October 23, 2022

    You’ll rotate through the different arts tracks each day, participate in various group activities throughout, and close with a ceremony for parents and families, celebrating the results of your Arts Camp experiences. You’ll also meet new friends, participate in camp games, and enjoy the great natural setting of Upham Woods, a 300-acre environmental education center on the Wisconsin River near Wisconsin Dells.

    4-H Arts Camp is sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension, and is funded through registrations and a grant from the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation. The program is planned and led by a talented group of 4-H high school youth, assisted by Extension specialists, 4-H staff, and key adult volunteers. You’ll learn lots of creative ideas to take home to share with your family, friends, and community.  

    If you haven’t been a part of the Arts Camp experience, come and see what you’ve been missing! Space is limited.

    Cost for Campers: $100    Cost for Chaperones: $55
    Please note: Transportation to the camp is NOT provided.

    Register in 4HOnline by September 20, 2022. More Info: Wisconsin 4-H Arts Camp

    Middle school age children posing for a group photo in a wooded area

    September Issue of “TRACKS” (Wildlife WHEP Wisconsin 4-H and Wisconsin 4-H Forestry) Newsletter Now Available

    WI 4-H Forestry logoWildlife WHEP WI 4-H logo

    It’s a new 4-H year! Did you know you can participate in wildlife and forestry activities as a 4-H member without being enrolled in the specific projects? Take advantage of the amazing opportunities in Wildlife WHEP & Forestry activities as well as develop leadership skills by attending or participating in the educational sessions offered, especially at many 4-H Shooting Sports events. There is a connection between wildlife and shooting sports projects. Read about upcoming opportunities in the September 2022 issue of Tracks 

    Planning AHEAD Now Offered to Washington County Residents via Zoom

    What’s the average American’s life expectancy? Take your guess… According to the CDC, in 2018 life expectancy for women was 81.2 years and 76.2 years for men. Now few of us want to think about the end of our life, let alone plan for it. However, having your financial and health information organized and your wishes clearly communicated is one of the best gifts you can give your loved ones.

    Many people plan to arrange their affairs when they’re retired. Others say they will when they are “older” and some people haven’t thought about it at all.  Planning AHEAD, a new UW-Madison Division of Extension series, helps adults of all ages begin the process of end-of-life planning in a non-judgemental, supportive environment.

    Carol Bralich, Human Development, and Relationships Educator is pleased to be able to bring Planning AHEAD to Washington County residents. “End-of-life planning can be extremely overwhelming and Planning AHEAD helps make it manageable. It is exciting that we are able to offer this virtual class at no cost to participants.”

    The fall Planning AHEAD series will take place over seven virtual Zoom sessions, meeting Tuesday evenings, October 4 – November 15 from 6:30-7:30 pm. Participants will receive a packet to help guide them through creating a manageable step-by-step plan. This course is FREE to participants, but class size is limited so that all participants can have a quality experience.

    Amy Mangan-Fischer, Carol Bralich, and Jane Jensen (Extension Educators from Fond du Lac, Washington and Sheboygan counties) will guide participants through examining health care wishes, financial responsibilities, estate planning, legal requirements and documentation, distribution of personal property, end-of-life decisions, dealing with grief, and the emotional ramifications of all of the above.

    Don’t wait until you’re “older” to begin your end-of-life planning, enroll today!

    4-H Enrollment for 2022-2023 4-H Year!

    Attention Washington County 4-H families: 4HOnline opens for enrollment, starting September 7th!

    4-H Online logo

    • ALL 4-H members and adult volunteers need to re-enroll each year. Current enrollments DO NOT automatically roll-over.
    • Please re-enroll by October 1. Club and project leaders will pull 4-H rosters starting in October.
    • Instructions can be found in the 4-H Family Enrollment Guide for both youth and adult re-enrollments. Please USE the 4-H Family Enrollment Guide for step-by-step instructions!
    • A few reminders to share with you regarding re-enrollment:
      • Current, active 4-H’ers DO NOT create a new account, use current account log-in name and password to log-in to your existing 4HOnline account. If you can’t remember your password, you can request a password reset on the log-in screen.
      • Ensure your family contact information is current/accurate – including email, phone, mailing address. If not, please update your 4HOnline account.
      • Edit project list as needed. Youth must be enrolled in at least one project to be active. You should be able update years in each project as needed.
      • Ensure consents are e-signed.
      • Use ‘Next’ button at the bottom of each page to continue through registration, and ‘Submit’ button when registration is complete/accurate.
    • Adult Leader Reminder: If you are a Project Leader for a specific club, you will need to select a ‘Club Volunteer Type’ AND a ‘Project Volunteer Type’.
    • Running into Problems? Please use reference guide: 4-H Family Enrollment Guide for step-by-step instructions!
    • Additional Resources: 4HOnline 2.0 for Families link

    We are excited to start the new 4-H year and look forward to 4-H members, families, and volunteers coming together as a great 4-H community!!

    Congratulations Washington County 4-H Graduates!!

    To all our 2022 Washington County 4-H graduates: we celebrate you and hope that you continue to allow your head, heart, hands, and health guide you to fulfill your purpose in your community, country, and world. We know you will go on to do great things!

    A few of the graduates have shared their future plans, favorite 4-H memory, and advice for younger 4-H members, below.

    Now Hiring: 4-H Educator for Washington County

    WE ARE HIRING! JOIN OUR TEAM Washington County 4-H Program Educator We are looking for a 4-H Program Educator to lead and manage the full range of our Washington County 4-H program including clubs, camps, and other educational experiences. UW Extension UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON WASHINGTON COUNTY

    UW-Madison Division of Extension is now hiring a 4-H Program Educator for Washington County to lead and manage the full range of the 4-H program including clubs, after school programs, educational experiences, and camps. This dynamic position focuses on:

    • Recruiting, training, developing, and managing volunteers focused on helping youth develop life skills that promote ongoing community involvement and strengthen youth leadership development
    • Expanding 4-H membership and volunteer opportunities to underserved youth and adults
    • Overseeing 4-H Clubs, 4-H Groups, 4-H Leaders Associations and committees and coordinating the process for youth and adult volunteer enrollment
    • Strengthening the 4-H program by providing leadership for marketing, communications, member recruitment and member retention
    • Cultivating collaborative efforts and partnerships with other organizations to expand 4-H programming opportunities.

    Apply today!! 4-H Extension Educator (Washington County)

    The University of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

    4-H Volunteer Orientation (VIP) Sessions Offered in August

    4-H Training for New Volunteers Virtual VIP Trainings Tuesday, Aug 30 6:30pm-8:00pm On Wed, Aug 31 11:30am-1:00pm • Sign Up https://tinyurl.com/4-HVIP2022Are you interested in being a 4-H club leader or project leader? Or, perhaps you are interested in being a 4-H camp chaperone!  Maybe you became an official 4-H volunteer many years ago and you are looking for a refresher on things that may have been updated since then. Well, you’ve come to the right place!

    One of the first steps in becoming a registered 4-H volunteer with Extension is to attend a volunteer orientation called “Volunteers in Preparation.” We have two upcoming opportunities to take this training virtually, by Zoom:

    • Tuesday, August 30 — 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
    • Wednesday, August 31 — 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    Sign up today! https://tinyurl.com/4-HVIP2022