New "In-School" 4-H Club at Hillcrest

Nickie H., 4-H Youth Development Agent

Douglas County 4-H is excited to introduce a new In-School 4-H Club at Hillcrest Elementary School, a program created to bring 4-H directly to students during the school day. While the traditional 4-H community club model works well for many families, it does not meet the needs of every household. To ensure that all youth can participate in hands-on learning and leadership experiences, Douglas County 4-H is bringing 4-H to where young people already are - right into their classrooms.

This fall, Hillcrest’s 5th-grade students embarked on a comprehensive 4-H club experience. The youth elected officers and are learning how to run their own meetings using parliamentary procedure. Each meeting provides students with opportunities to develop public speaking skills, practice leadership, and foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members. These are core elements of 4-H that help young people build confidence, responsibility, and teamwork skills.

At the start of the program, students voted on the project area they wanted to explore together and enthusiastically chose fiber arts. Throughout the year, youth will learn a variety of fiber arts skills, including weaving, basic knitting, and textile creativity, while discovering the history, science, and cultural significance behind these arts. This project offers students the opportunity to work with their hands, express their creativity, solve problems, and develop perseverance as they experiment with new techniques and materials.

In addition to project work, service is a key component of the Hillcrest 4-H experience. Students will participate in service-learning projects related to fiber arts or other community needs. These projects help youth understand how they can use their skills and talents to give back and make a positive impact in Douglas County.

This new club is made possible through a partnership among Douglas County 4-H, 4-H volunteers, teen leaders, Hillcrest’s 5th-grade teachers, and school administration. Their collaboration ensures that the program is both meaningful, engaging, and accessible to students. By embedding 4-H activities during the school day, transportation barriers are removed, participation increases, and more youth can experience the sense of belonging and spark, as well as the sense of discovery that 4-H provides.

The Hillcrest In-School 4-H Club is part of a broader effort by Douglas County 4-H to expand access and reimagine how youth can participate in 4-H. By meeting young people where they are, the program continues to fulfill the 4-H mission of helping all youth learn, lead, and thrive.

Douglas County 4-H is proud of the hard work and enthusiasm shown by Hillcrest students so far and looks forward to all they will accomplish this year in their fiber arts journey and in their growth as leaders in their school and community.

This article is from the 2025 K-State Extension Douglas County Winter Newsletter publication.