Kane County 4-H Fun Night welcomes interested families

Kane County 4-H will host its annual 4-H Fun Night on Thursday, Oct. 8 to celebrate National 4-H Week and the start of a new 4-H year. From 6:30 to 8 p.m., join local 4-H Clubs for carnival-style games and activities in the Prairie Events Center at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road in St. Charles.

This year, 4-H Club booths will feature family-friendly activities, including the 60-second challenge, candy walk, ring toss and more. It also provides an excellent chance for interested families, and individuals seeking volunteer opportunities, to learn about 4-H, and meet Kane County club members and leaders.

"This annual 4-H Fun Night welcomes interested families to come have fun and experience a little of what 4-H has to offer here in Kane County," said 4-H Program Coordinator Doris Braddock. "Our Fun Night event will feature several clubs from around the county, and visitors can meet youth and current volunteers, as well as ask questions about 4-H."

Every county in Illinois has a 4-H program, which is operated through University of Illinois Extension. 4-H club membership is open to youth age 8 to 18, and the Cloverbud program is geared for ages 5 to 7.

"4-H provides youth an opportunity to explore many areas, from photography to horticulture and technology to animal science, just to name a few," Braddock said. "4-H Youth Development programs provide hands-on learning, and focus on building leadership, citizenship and life skills."

According to Tufts University Research, 4-H youth are five times more likely to plan to graduate from college than non-4-H peers. 4-H members also are: four times more likely to make contributions to their communities, nearly three times more likely to spend time being physically active, and nearly two times more likely to pursue a career in science, engineering, or computer technology.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any program, contact the office at (630) 584-6166.

For more information on the 4-H program in Kane County, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/ or contact Dorris Braddock at (630) 584-6166, ext. 13, or at dbraddoc@illinois.edu.