Ninety-three percent of youth ages 10-18 are actively online and want to use the Internet to find information they need, according to a 2003 Pew Internet survey. 4-H is a leader among youth development organizations using the Internet with club, county, state and national 4-H programs actively developing new and more innovative web sites.

The latest edition is the new 4-HUSA.org, a web site exclusively for, by and about youth. The site, which focuses on youth ages 13-16, 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. It will debut in early September.

4-H clubs and county and state 4-H programs will be able to showcase their websites to the media and will be asked to cross promote 4-husa.org during National 4-H Week. Media tools include a customizable media alert and a customizable news release, digital photos of the 4-HUSA Web Crew, links to the 4-H emblem and its graphic standards, tips to get great media coverage for 4-H and ideas for 4-H Online! events.

Contact Laura Phillips Garner at National 4-H Council at lgarner@fourhcouncil.edu for more information.