Mission

THE ARKANSAS 4-H PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP & LIFE SKILLS. DEVELOPING YOUTH TO BE SELF-DIRECTING, PRODUCTIVE, AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY THROUGH 82 PROJECT AREAS THAT HELP YOUTH GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND BEHAVIOR NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL ADULTS PREPARING YOUTH FOR THEIR FUTURE ROLES IN AREAS CRITICAL TO OUR WORKFORCE, LIKE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS. ALSO, THE 4-H PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE "5 C'S" OF POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - COMPETENCE, CONFIDENCE, CONNECTION, CHARACTER, AND CARING/COMPASSION BY INSTILLING AND DEVELOPING THE "5 C'S", CONTRIBUTION IS OFTEN DEVELOPED, A CONTRIBUTION TO SELF, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND THE INSTITUTION OF A CIVIL SOCIETY. YOUTH WHO DO NOT DEVELOP A HIGH LEVEL OF THE FIVE C'S WOULD BE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR A DEVELOPMENTAL PATH THAT INCLUDED PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AND RISKS (LERNER 2004).