“Learning by doing” is the 4-H slogan.

What better way to learn about a particular subject than to roll up your sleeves and apply what you learn to real life. In Logan County, students are able to do just that.

4-H community and after school clubs usually meet once a month and work on various projects throughout the year. Many times these projects can include making a birdhouse, visiting a children’s hospital, decorating Christmas ornaments, making a bug or leaf collection, or carving jack-o-lanterns. Many times these projects are items that can be entered in the county fair as 4-H exhibits to be judged and from there can move on to the state fair. Projects can also include some community service work such as planting flowers or trees in a park or around the school.

Sometimes during the year, the clubs will have a clinic to learn about a specific topic. A clinic can be about anything from photography to cooking, whatever the club has an interest in. Usually when the club has a clinic, a professional in a certain field will come talk to the club and we’ll do some hands on activities. For example, if it’s a photography clinic, a photographer will come and talk about the different aspects of photography. They’ll go over tips and techniques used to capture that perfect shot. They’ll also talk about the different types of cameras and lenses used in photography. Then the club gets to go out and practice their skills taking pictures themselves. If it’s a cooking clinic, an experienced person might come in and show students how to bake cookies from scratch. Then, each club member would get an opportunity to bake their own batch of cookies to take home and eat or share with family.

Community clubs are almost limitless on what they can do. Many times they will work on a variety show act to perform on the area level. They may also take field trips. A trip to Mammoth Cave to learn about caves and cave exploration, a day at the zoo, or simply a day at the park walking the trails while a park ranger talks about the forest are examples of the trips a community club may take.

There are several 4-H After School and Community Clubs that meet in Logan County. Each club is open to any students attending that school or who live in the area age 7-19. The 4-H Cooking Club meets here at the Extension Office the third Thursday of each month at 4:30. The Horse Club meets at the Thornberry’s home the third Tuesday at 6:30. Kentucky Clovers is an open club that meets here at the office the second Thursday at 6pm. Adairville After School meets the second Tuesday right after school. Lewisburg meets the third Tuesday right after school and Chandlers meets the third Thursday right after school. Stevenson School Club meets the second Wednesday after school. The Logan County Teen Council meets the second Monday at 3:30 here at the office. There are also other clubs that meet during certain times of the year and for certain events such as the rabbit club, adventure club, sewing club and homeschool club. If you’re interested in attending any of these exciting 4-H clubs, please contact the Extension Office at 270-726-6362.

There are opportunities for similar clubs at other schools but adult volunteers are needed. The time commitment is very minimal, with each club consisting of one meeting per month. The Extension Office will provide any necessary training, materials and assistance needed to get a volunteer started on the path to a successful club. If you are interested in attending an After-School Club or volunteering to lead a club, please contact the Logan County Extension Office at 270-726-6323.