Local 4-H Club Announces Plans for 2025–2026 Program Year
Youth invited to learn, grow, and lead through hands-on experiences
By Autumn Gavlock
NORTH BEND – The North Bend 4-H Club is preparing for a new and exciting 2025–2026 program year, filled with engaging activities, youth leadership opportunities, and hands-on learning across a variety of subjects. The club invites returning families and new members alike to take part in a program designed to help young people grow into confident, capable leaders in their communities.
Monthly meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The first meeting of the program year will take place on October 7, 2025, at Grace Baptist Church, located on PA-120 in North Bend, PA (ZIP 17760). This year’s schedule will begin as planned, with a possible adjustment in November due to Election Day. The club may shift that meeting to the second Tuesday, depending on volunteer availability.
Open enrollment for the 2025–2026 4-H program year begins on October 1. While the official 4-H registration fee is once again being covered by Clinton County, families are asked to pay $60 in club dues per child, which will be collected at the first monthly meeting on October 7, 2025. These dues help support club activities throughout the year and cover the cost of 4-H camp in the summer. Families experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to reach out to Midge Kramer to discuss potential sponsorship options. North Bend 4-H and the broader 4-H community take pride in ensuring that no child is ever turned away due to family income. All youth deserve the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive through 4-H, regardless of financial circumstances.
Club organizers emphasize that only enrolled 4-H members are permitted to attend meetings and events. For safety, supervision, and planning purposes, non-members — including siblings and guests — are not allowed at club functions unless they are officially registered through 4-H.
Volunteers are reminded to renew their registration through ZSuites by October 1 and to complete the required annual training module. Volunteers are essential to the club’s operation and are asked to arrive by 5:30 p.m. on meeting nights to assist with setup and stay after for cleanup.
This year, the North Bend 4-H program will offer a variety of youth-led project areas under the guidance of dedicated community leaders. Among the highlights is the newly introduced E-sports program, which will be paired with the continuing Robotics project, both led by Roger Kshir. Art continues under the direction of Angelina Rega, while cooking, a popular and ongoing project, will be facilitated by Brittney Nelen. A new Horse Project will also be offered for the first time, led off-site by Sara Zook and her husband.
For younger members, the Cloverbuds program for grades K through 2 will continue to introduce children to 4-H through age-appropriate, hands-on activities in a group setting. All Cloverbud members — from kindergarten through second grade — will explore a variety of project areas throughout the year under the leadership of Mindy Bloom.
Cloverbuds interested in participating in animal shows or exhibitions will need to complete dual enrollment and attend additional off-site meetings.
Beyond regular monthly meetings, the club is planning a series of educational and agricultural field trips. These include a visit to a local dairy farm hosted by Coreena Meyer, as well as trips to Ag at Penn State and the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. These experiences are designed to give youth a broader understanding of agriculture, science, and state-level 4-H programming.
North Bend 4-H will also offer camp participation for the first time this year. After working toward this goal over the past few years, local members will now have the opportunity to attend 4-H camp alongside other youth from across the region. Camp is free for all enrolled members, as the cost is included in the annual dues collected at the beginning of the year. Non-members may attend, space permitting, for a fee of $50 per child.
The club will also be participating in the Flaming Foliage Festival Parade, an annual community tradition that highlights the spirit of local organizations. This year’s float will be themed “Food for Thought and Robotics,” a nod to the club’s 2025 summer camp focus. Families interested in helping design the float or participate in the parade must sign up by the first October meeting.
In addition, North Bend 4-H will have a presence at the upcoming Magic in the Air event as part of its community outreach and recruitment efforts.
As always, only water is permitted at club meetings. Parents may contribute non-messy, prepackaged snacks, and are encouraged to coordinate with leaders in advance if they’d like to provide refreshments for the group.
With a full year ahead and a strong base of returning and new volunteers, North Bend 4-H continues its mission of helping youth develop life skills, confidence, and a sense of responsibility through hands-on learning and community involvement.
To register your child, visit 4h.zsuite.org or contact Midge Kramer, 4-H Organizer, for more information on how to sign up.
Parents or community members interested in volunteering can also reach out to Midge to learn how to get connected and become certified.
