WATERLOO - Black Hawk County 4-H is trying to connect with youth using Legos and other fun activities to bolster membership.

Apparently, it's working.

4-H officials said Black Hawk was one of a few counties to meet a statewide goal to increase membership by 3 percent this year by Iowa State University Extension, which runs the program. About 365 kids in the county are now enrolled in the largest youth development program in Iowa.

To celebrate National 4-H Week, county Extension director Al Ricks thought it was the perfect time to unveil its latest specialty club - the Lego League. Kids gathered at the county Extension Office on Wednesday for the first meeting of the group, which uses the popular building blocks to teach science, engineering and other life skills 4-H is famous for.

A continued push to attract urban and rural kids not associated with production agriculture is the reason for the enrollment upswing, Ricks said.

"Our numbers have taken a positive turn," Ricks said, noting that 4-H is scrambling to find more volunteers and create new specialty clubs to meet needs. "It presents us new challenges in organizing, but it's a nice challenge to have."

Traditionally, 4-H was considered an organization for farm kids. Membership dropped as the number of farms in the state decreased. At one time, Black Hawk County boasted more than 1,000 members.

Though traditional community clubs - featuring livestock and crop projects - are still the backbone of the organization, officials said specialty clubs are the craze. Now 4-H is about Legos, guns, gardening and more.

Prior to Wednesday's Lego League meeting, Mitch Winkers of Dunkerton said he couldn't wait to attend. The thought of building robots with friends made the 9-year-old giddy.

"I'm pretty excited to go," Winkers said. "I have a lot of Legos. I think building robots would be cool."

Focusing on hobbies and fun activities is a way to gain new members and retain those already in 4-H. Members can be in more than one club. Winkers also is a member of the Lester Live Wires.

Other specialty clubs in the county include:

The Orange Green Thumbs - a gardening club based at Orange Elementary school.

Black Hawk County 4-H Shooting Sport featuring gun safety and target shooting at Hawkeye Community College.

The Latino Club focusing on the area's Hispanic community.

Dog Project Club - which focusing on dog obedience.

Horse and Pony Club concentrating on equine training and safety.

Llamamigos Club - which teaches members about llamas.

4-H officials said several other clubs also are in the works. These new clubs may concentrate on cars and engines, photography, woodworking and gourmet cooking, just to name a few.

Diane Wolfe, a 4-H program assistant, said 4-H is for everyone. Kids gain valuable teamwork, citizenship and leadership skills while having fun.

"People think 4-H is only about animals. We have grown and adapted to what the youth need," she said.

4-H officials hope the recent growth spurt becomes a trend. That may happen considering several new community clubs formed this year and an estimated 350 youth recently turned in cards indicating an interest in 4-H. The organization is open to all kids in fourth through 12th grade. Younger kids can join a Clover Kids group.

For more information about joining a club, call the Black Hawk County Extension Office at (319) 234-6811 or check out its Web site at www.extension.iastate.edu/blackhawk.

Contact Matthew Wilde

at (319) 291-1579 or

matt.wilde@wcfcourier.com.