Santa Cruz County

4-H Community Club Program

Santa Cruz County 4-H Program
Going Beyond Ready 4H

4-H helps kids find their spark, build real world skills and become resilient, adaptable, lifelong learners.

For our youth the road ahead may be challenging, yet 4-H'ers are succeeding. Data shows that compared to their peers they're:

  • 2x more likely to have the goal of being a leader
  • 3x more likely to participate in community service
  • 2x more likely to report living life with intentionality and purpose

*Tufts University longitudinal study of Positive Youth Development, 2021

Join 4-H youth program year round!

4-H equips kids with essential life skills, confidence, and a deep sense of belonging through epic hands-on learning experiences.

Join today and start your 4-H youth and family adventure by registering with a 4-H club of your choose.

Ages 5 to 18 years old

2025- 2026 4-H registration fees

$80.00 per youth member

$35.00 per adult volunteers  

Come check out the 4-H clubs in our county today.

Contact the 4-H program office for more information by 

email: [email protected] or phone 831-205-3180.

For more information go to the tab "Joining 4-H Today" 

4-H offers youth limitless opportunity for friendship, growth, fun, and life skills.  By engaging youth and adults in a meaningful partnerships, 4-H helps youth to reach their full potential as competent, confident, leaders of character who contribute and are connected to their communities.  To learn more about what the 4-H program has to offer our youth, check out the 4-H New Family Handbook.

Upcoming events: 

  • 2nd Saturday event 
    • Ag History Project
    • Location: Ag History Project at Santa Cruz Fairgrounds
    • Time: 11 am to 3 pm
    • Event Dates: 2nd Saturday of every month
    • Free event with actives - Family fun 
  • Citizen Washington Focus conference, June 14-20, 2025

  • Rooted in legacy but re imagined for today, CWF is THE event for teens to learn leadership and communication skills through history, democracy, and our amendments. For 6 days, teens from around the nation will gather to have meaningful discussions and learn the skills they need to lead their local communities and become change agents to build a brighter future.

    • The youth must register through the 4-H state office.
    • The registration fee is $2559
      • check with office for scholarship available by 4-H VMO (council)
      • You can check with your 4-H club for scholarships as well.
    • The youth that attend will have to present at a 4-H council meeting and 4-H club meeting on the CFW.
    • Information from the National 4-H office on the conference

    Just remember you must register through our 4-H state office with Ryan Cleveland at [email protected]

  • 4-H Camp, June 22, 2025- June 26, 2025 - Summer Camp is full
  • 4-H Countywide Projects (Open to all 4-H members): 
    • CloverBuds project age (5 to 9 years old)
    • Leather craft project (open to all 4-Her's
      • Date: June 26, 2025
      • Time: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
      • Location: 4-H office 500 Westridge Dr, Watsonville
        • Drive to the back of the parking lot
        • 4-H office door is next to the Weights & Measures garage door
    • Woodburning project (open to all 4-H members)
      • Date: July 16, 2025
      • Time: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
      • Location: 4-H office 500 Westridge Dr, Watsonville
        • Drive to the back of the parking lot
        • 4-H office door is next to the Weights & Measures garage door
    • Teen Project (ages 12 to 18 years old): TBA 
  • VMO Meeting - August 13, 2025 
    • Open to all 4-H leaders & youth
    • Date: August 13, 2025
    • Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
    • Location: 4-H office 500 Westridge Dr, Watsonville
      • Drive to the back of the parking lot
      • 4-H office door is next to the Weights & Measures garage door

 

Bird Flu Ban as of January 7,2025: 

"Please be advised:  Due to the spread of H5N1 Avian Influenza (Bird Flu), the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) State Veterinarian-Director, Dr. Annette Jones has implemented a ban on all California Poultry and Dairy Exhibitions at Fairs and Shows effective January 07, 2025. 
 
This action is required to minimize the danger of exposing people and non-infected  birds and cows to the disease. Please refer to the attachment for details of the ban. Please disseminate to those you deem should have the information. Thank you for your support and cooperation."
 
"Any of us with dairy cows and domestic poultry (commercial and backyard flocks) can minimize the danger of exposing people and non-infected cows and poultry (chickens, geese, turkey, ducks and domestic quail) to the disease by stepping up bio-security measures through: 
  • Avoiding the commingling of wild bird populations, with other poultry/dairy cows, and you. 
  • Consider surgery booties on your feet while at feed stores, or, change shoes when you get to home or to a barn to work with livestock (Walking in and out of a local feed store and, going directly home to your barn is highly risky).
  • Avoid moving or sharing equipment that may serve to transfer the virus. 
  • Report any unusual/suspicious illness or deaths to your local veterinarian or CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-BIRD (2473)."
For more details 

4-H office:

Our main office is open on Monday through Thursday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm for assistance. 

4-H staff office hours Tuesday through Thursday 9 am to 4:30 pm. 

4-H office address: 500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville

Please make an appointment with Julie Katawicz if you need assistance at the 4-H office. 

Julie Katawicz - 4-H Program Rep contact: [email protected] phone (831) 205-3180

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