According to the Pew Internet Project (2003), 93 percent of young people ages 10 - 18 are actively online and want to find the information they need from online sources. 4-H is at the forefront of youth development organizations using the Internet with national, state and county 4-H programs and 4-H clubs actively developing new and more innovative online presences with the support of the National 4-H Youth Technology Team, state and county 4-H youth technology teams and the 4-HUSA Web Crew.

The 4-HUSA Web Crew is a group of 14 teens from across the United States charged with designing 4-husa.org, 4-H's first national web site exclusively for, by and about youth. The 4-HUSA Web Crew will design and manage the website, which will demonstrate the size, diversity and value of the 4-H adventure. Focusing on youth ages 13-16, the site will feature a complete list of 4-H web sites organized by state and interactive elements like message boards, weblogs and myname@4-Husa.org e-mail aliases. The new site is set to debut in early September.

4-H clubs and county and state 4-H programs will be able to use National 4-H Week to showcase their websites to the media and will be asked to cross promote 4-husa.org. A National 4-H Week media kit with a customizable media advisory, feature story and photos will be available online to help county and state 4-H programs promote 4-H Online! through their National 4-H Week events.

Visit www.4husablogs.org/national4-hweek2004 for access to the kit. Contact Laura Phillips Garner at National 4-H Council at lgarner@fourhcouncil.edu
for more information.