Salt Lake County 4-H Overview

Pam Van Wagoner, 4-H Stem, FCS and Outreach Coordinator with USU has highlighted programs we think our members would be interested in. Please read below for more information about the programs!

Salt Lake County 4-H Garden Program

4-H is the nation’s largest Positive Youth Development Program, inspiring the next generation of leaders, inventors, entrepreneurs, and problem solvers. Through hands-on experiences, 4-H helps youth develop confidence, leadership, and critical life skills. Programs span a wide range of interests—from livestock and sewing to robotics and leadership development.

Salt Lake County 4-H is the youth division of Utah State University (USU) Extension in Salt Lake County. Our mission is to help young people discover their passions ("sparks") and turn them into strengths that benefit both themselves and their communities.

Garden Programs: Growing Leaders & Junior Master Gardeners

Salt Lake County 4-H offers two main garden-focused programs:

• Growing Leaders: This program empowers teens who are passionate about gardening to become leaders. These youth lead workshops, run summer camps, and support field trips, teaching urban youth about agriculture and gardening.

• Junior Master Gardener (JMG): Open to all Salt Lake County youth in grades 3–12, this program uses the Texas A&M Extension JMG curriculum to teach gardening from planting to harvesting. While open to all, special outreach is made to military-connected youth through our partnership with the Utah National Guard.

Environmental Education: Utah Envirothon

In addition to gardening, Salt Lake County 4-H offers programs for youth interested in environmental science. One key opportunity is the Utah Envirothon, a hands-on environmental and natural resource competition for high school students (grades 9–12, ages 14–19). The program integrates STEM education with outdoor experiences and challenges students to solve real-world conservation problems. Participants gain leadership skills and a deeper commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Salt Lake County 4-H will coach an Envirothon team during the 2025 school year and is currently seeking coaches, mentors, and financial sponsors to help the team prepare and travel to competitions.

Get Involved

Salt Lake County 4-H welcomes community support! We are always looking for:

• Donations of plants, garden supplies, and financial contributions

• Volunteers to serve as garden helpers, contest/fair judges, youth mentors, presenters, club assistants, and club leaders

If you're interested in supporting or volunteering, please contact Pam Van Wagoner at pamela.vanwagoner@usu.edu.