Jefferson County Extension is introducing a new 4-H club opportunity for youth in grades 4 through 12 this year — SPIN Clubs, which stand for Special Interest — offering short-term, six-week programs focused on specific project areas.
SPIN Clubs are open to all youth in grades 4 through 12. Youth can participate in both traditional 4-H clubs and SPIN clubs, or just SPIN clubs. Members of SPIN clubs who attend at least five meetings and give a short presentation will meet the membership requirements for participation in the 2027 Jefferson County Fair, where they will also have the opportunity to complete at least one static exhibit. Fair participation is encouraged but not required.
Eight clubs will be offered throughout the school year, with two clubs running simultaneously during each session on Friday afternoons at the Jefferson County Extension Office. One club meets from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. and another from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The fall session runs September 18th through October 23rd and features a Crafting club — covering topics such as embroidery, crocheting, knitting, junk journaling, card making, paracord crafts, and duct tape crafts — meeting Fridays from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., and a Forestry and Wildlife club — covering plant identification, tree identification, wildlife tracks, and wildlife habitats — meeting Fridays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The second session runs October 30th through December 11th and features a Cooking club — covering balanced meal planning, budgeting, nutritional information, diets and allergens, ingredient substitutions, and produce handling — meeting Fridays from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., and a STEM club — covering robotics, computer coding, problem solving, building blocks, and experiments — meeting Fridays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The third session runs January 8th through February 12th and features a Sewing club — covering safe sewing machine use, hand sewing, pattern reading, pattern modification, and fabric selection — meeting Fridays from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., and a News Network club — covering social media, interview skills, photography, graphic design, podcast recording, video recording, and written communication — meeting Fridays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The fourth and final session runs April 2nd through May 7th and features an Animal Science club — covering animal diseases, animal care, breeds of livestock, livestock anatomy, animal life cycles, genetics, and vaccinations — meeting Fridays from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., and a Photography and Digital Communications club — covering video recording, interviews, podcast recording, photography, social media, and event promotion — meeting Fridays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
All needed project supplies are included in the cost of SPIN club membership, and all SPIN club members will have their $45 4-H enrollment fee covered by Jefferson County Extension. The cost to participate is $60 for joining one club, $40 for joining an additional club, and $20 for each additional club beyond that.
Enrollment will take place in 4-H Online on or after September 1st. Those interested in receiving more information or a reminder to enroll can fill out an interest survey on the Jefferson County Extension website.
Jefferson County Extension is also seeking SPIN Club Leaders for the 2026-2027 program year. The part-time position involves guiding educational activities during Friday afternoon club meetings from September through May, working alongside a co-leader and Extension staff using provided lesson plans. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have graduated high school, have experience working with youth, possess strong communication skills, and be able to pass a background check. The position offers three to four hours of work most weeks, with wages based on experience. Application materials can be found on the Jefferson County Extension website.
