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4-H Challenge Preparing Today's
Youth for Tomorrow's Challenges!

“Every child has inside him an aching void for excitement and if we don’t fill it with something which is exciting and interesting and good for him, he will fill it with something which is exciting and interesting and which isn’t good for him.”

-- Theodore Roosevelt

Our Mission

To develop capable, caring, contributing citizens through research-based, guided adventure exploration and experiential learning models.   We accomplish our mission by building life skills using the natural environment and adventure-based activities within a full value community.

Our Purpose

There are many different kinds of adventure-based experiential education programs. Although on the surface there are similarities between activities, there is a wide spectrum of purposes and philosophies in the adventure-based experiential education field.  Programs can range from recreational activities on one end of the spectrum, to therapy driven activities at the other.  The 4-H Challenge program falls approximately in the middle of the spectrum, focusing on education and life skills development.  Our programs are designed and sequenced to be more than just entertainment or recreation.  They help participants learn new concepts, develop or enhance personal and interpersonal skills through meaningful and fun experiences.

We believe that the most powerful method of learning is through the learning-by-doing approach, also known as experiential learning or adventure education. In its simplest form, the model has three major components - Do, Reflect, Apply.