Michigan 4-H Youth Development mobilizes volunteers and communities to meet the needs of youth.  The mission is simple — to create non-formal, educational opportunities to help youth thrive in a complex and changing world.
Sustained relationships with peers and adults nurture positive youth development. A structured yet flexible environment encourages honesty, trust and respect among all youth and adults. Through a process of identity awareness and discovery, members increase their personal competence and sense of well-being. Opportunities for participants to learn and develop take place in many different contexts and take into account a variety of learning styles.
They also experience and learn from hands-on educational opportunities that help them develop the skills they need to be successful adults. Youth gain personal competencies that help them foster social justice and feel included and involved in their communities.
On top of all the positive development youth gain from involvement as a 4-H member, 4-H offers a lot of fun for participants as well. Outdoor activities, handling livestock, science experiments, working as a club, participating in community service events and getting to meet new friends and learn how to do new things are all part of the 4-H experience.  There are numerous club and county activities, as well as state and national 4-H events youth can participate in.
4-H has got something for everyone. Like drawing, and painting? Enjoy riding horses? Want to be physically active outdoors? Do you like to make things with your hands?  Express yourself in creative writing?  Want to spend time with friends and meet new friends?  Well, Cass County 4-H has all of these things and more.
Clubs meet in Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg, Marcellus, Niles and Vandalia.
New and returning enrollments for the Cass County 4-H program are due Jan. 1, 2012.
For more information on the Cass County 4-H Program, please contact the Michigan State University Extension office at 445-4438; 120 N. Broadway, Suite 209 in Cassopolis, or go to www.msu.casscountymi.org and www.msue.msu.edu/cass.