Programs and Opportunities

York County 4-H Center

The York County 4-H Center is a 25-acre facility that hosts many of our 4-H club meetings and county-wide events. It is privately owned by the 4-H Clubs of York County and maintained by a board of directors.

Address

771 Stoverstown Road
York, PA 17408

Interested in Renting the Center?

For information on renting the York County 4-H Center, contact Michelle Smith at Penn State Extension in York County at 717-840-7408 or mls7368@psu.edu.

Directions

From the Intersection of Rt. 30 and I83

(Traveling south from Harrisburg (exit 22, follow George St to Rt. 30)
(Traveling north from Maryland (Exit 21B))

• Follow Rt. 30 west around York till it connects with old Rt. 30; take first connecting exit, Rt. 30 West towards Gettysburg.
• Follow approximately 1 mile; Turn left on Rt. 116 (Hanover Rd); Rutters' Farm Store is on right side of intersection.
• Take Rt. 116 for 1.5 miles to Stoverstown Road. (First road on left after passing WayneCo Kitchens). (directional sign with 4‐H Center at this intersection)
• Travel 1/4 mile, York County 4‐H Center is on left. Brick and cement block building, sits back from road in wooded area. There is a sign at end of lane.

From Gettysburg area

• Travel East on Rt. 30 towards York.
• Turn right onto Biesecker Road. (you will see the quarry on right prior to this turn)
• At T intersection turn left onto Hanover Rd (Rt. 116).
• Travel approximately 2 blocks, turn right onto Stoverstown Rd. (directional sign with 4‐H Center at this intersection)
• Travel ¼ mile, York County 4‐H Center is on left. Brick and cement block building sits back form road in wooded area.
• There is a sign at the end of the lane.

From Hanover area

• Travel East on Rt. 116 (Hanover Rd) towards York.
• Travel through Spring Grove and Nashville.
• Turn right onto Stoverstown Rd. (directional sign with 4‐H Center at this intersection)
• Travel ¼ mile, York County 4‐H Center is on left. Brick and cement block building sits back form road in wooded area.
• There is a sign at the end of the lane.

From Dover area

• Travel south on South Salem Church Rd, cross over East Berlin Rd (Rt. 234).
• Continue on new section of South Salem Church Rd to intersection with Rt. 30.
• Cross Rt. 30 and follow Rt. 116 (Hanover Rd) for 1.5 miles to Stoverstown Road. (First road on left after passing WayneCo Kitchens). (directional sign with 4‐H Center at this intersection)
• Turn left and travel 1/4 mile, York County 4‐H Center is on left. Brick and cement block building, sits back from road in wooded area.
• There is a sign at the end of the lane.

County-Wide 4-H Events

4-H offers more than just a club experience. All members are invited to participate in anything our York County 4-H Program has to offer. For more information, visit our Upcoming Events section.

• New Member Orientation
• Club Officer Training
• Volunteer Training
• Member and Volunteer Recognition
• Public Speaking Opportunities
• Community Service Opportunities
• Member Social Activities
• Opportunities to participate in the York State Fair

Camps

Explore 4-H through county camps! These short-term programs expose youth to a variety of project areas. Some are specifically for current 4-H members, while others are open to all youth who reside in York County.

• Project Saturdays
• Various projects are offered, attending 4-H members select which they choose to participate in
• Cloverbud Camp
• Our York County 4-H Teen Council leads this half-day camp for our Cloverbud members (youth ages 5-7)
• Regional Camp Opportunities - 4-H staff in York and surrounding counties join to offer these experiences for the region's 4-H members, which provide an overnight camping experience
• Regional 4-H Winter Retreat
• Regional 4-H Overnight Camp
• Additional county-wide day camp opportunities are also offered; check our Upcoming Events section for more opportunities.

After-School and School Enrichment Programs

York County 4-H offers after-school and school enrichment programming utilizing the 4-H curriculum and STEM concepts. Our two primary school enrichment curricula offerings are Meet the Plants and Stop the Invasion.

Meet the Plants

Meet the Plants is a beginning course in identifying what a plant is and the different parts of a plant. The program is focused on the 3rd to 5th grade age range. There are experiments and activities for seed sprouting, root development, and stem identification, students will have the opportunity to grow annual seeds and transplant a tomato plant. Students can learn how plants grow under different light, temperature, and soil conditions.

The program consists of about six 30–45-minute lessons. Bulbs will take five to six weeks to bloom. Equipment needed: sweet potatoes, celery, food coloring, and samples of seeds from fruits. Examples of plant materials such as mushrooms, ferns, mosses, and fungi would be helpful.

After the program, students will have knowledge of how plants grow and be able to propagate plants of their own.

Extension staff will provide one lesson for each classroom to introduce the program and to complete one experiment with the classroom. Educators are also available for troubleshooting and questions. This program will be provided from February to April and must be scheduled through the Penn State Extension Office in York County by calling 717-840-7408.

Stop the Invasion

Stop the Invasion: Unwanted Plants, Bugs, and Other Pests, the 4-H Invasive Species Project, is a hands-on, interactive curriculum through which youth develop an understanding of invasive species and their effect on ecological systems. The curriculum is divided into six lessons. Lessons address introducing invasive species, the impact of invasive species, and the prevention of invasive species. Students will keep a log of invasive species they encounter.

This curriculum is best suited for students in 2nd to 5th grade.

Please call the Penn State Extension Office in York County at 717-840-7408 and ask for Linda to schedule Stop the Invasion for your classroom.

Embryology

York County 4-H does not currently offer the embryology school program. However, depending on your school's location, we may connect you with a colleague in an adjoining county who may be able to accommodate your request. Our colleagues may be able to provide specific details and answer any questions you have about enrolling your classroom in the 4-H Embryology Project.

Other Programs

4-H staff in York County may be able to accommodate other 4-H curricula, such as Rain to Drain and Health Rocks. If you are interested in either curriculum, please contact Linda at 717-840-7408.

York State Fair

York County 4-H actively participates in the annual York State Fair through 4-H projects entered in the fair, members teaching fairgoers about their projects through demonstrations and more. Check with 4-H staff for information on how you can participate!