About Us

4-H Center Mission

To provide dynamic, research-based, hands-on learning experiences for 4-H youth, other youth, and adults that will enable them to become self-directed, contributing, and productive members of society.

Virginia 4-H Mission

Virginia 4-H develops youth and the adults working with those youth to realize their full potential becoming more effective, contributing citizens through participating in research-based, informal, hands-on educational experiences.

4-H Center Service Area

The Skelton 4-H Center serves 19 county and 2 city 4-H programs in western, central, and southwestern Virginia. Localities served span from Rockingham County in the northwest, to Pulaski County in the southwest, to Halifax County in the south-central part of the state. The Skelton 4-H Center serves other youth groups and adult groups from all over the region, state, and beyond.

History of the 4-H Center

The W. E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center at Smith Mountain Lake has been serving youth since 1966. Originally named the West Central 4-H Educational Center, there were limited facilities in the early days--a far cry from the 400+ beds, 15+ meeting rooms, trails, outdoor pavilions, Reynolds Horse Barn, challenge course, JOCO Learning Center, the modern Reid Jones Jr. Lodge and the James A. Meador Nature Center. Through the various transformations, updated facilities, and re-naming ceremonies, one thing remains true: the 4-H Center's focus is providing a safe, child friendly facility which is capable of providing high quality programs for youth from throughout our region and beyond. Over the past 40 years the Skelton 4-H Center has done this in serving more than 120,000 youth! On September 9th, 2004 the Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Educational Conference Center was re-named in a dedication ceremony to Dr. William E. Skelton for his many years of service and commitment to the youth from our region. Dr. Skelton has served on the 4-H Center's Board of Directors for approximately 30 years and has provided leadership not only to this organization but also served as the Director of Virginia Cooperative Extension and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. On June 29, 2006 we opened and dedicated the newly completed Willard Amphitheatre. Funded by Mr. Ron Willard, Board member and Franklin County native, the amphitheatre is sure to be a focal point for many of the 4-H Center's activities and will serve as an additional source of fundraising in the future.

Virginia 4-H Center Service Areas

Stars represent the location of the six centers in Virginia; the highlighted areas represent the service area for each center.