Membership
in the Washington State 4-H Youth Development Program is open to
youth in kindergarten who have reached their 5th birthday before
January 1 of the current 4-H year (October 1-September 30), through
those in the 12th grade or those who have not reached
their 19th birthday before January 1 of the current 4-H year. Special
Education youth older than 19 may be enrolled with the approval
of the county 4-H agent.
The 4-H program is delivered at the county level in Washington
in several different ways. The method of enrollment depends on the
delivery mode and the degree of ongoing group contact. All
enrollment information and forms are available through your county
Extension office. For contact information on the 4-H office in your
county, click here.
Volunteer
applications
4-H
Delivery Modes
(Ways to participate in 4-H)
4-H
is the youth development education program of Extension,
which is conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
the state land grant university Washington State University,
and your county government. Today 4-H is everywhere---in cities,
suburbs, small towns, and rural communities. 4-H is the largest
youth development organization in the nation. The United States
has more than 5 million members and 600,000 leaders. Around the
world, 4-H type clubs now exist in at least 82 countries. In the
1990s 4-H serves a broad clientele with expanded program focus
using a variety of ways to deliver its effective "learn by doing" approach.
All 4-H youth development emphasizes three types of basic life
skills: competency, coping, and contributory. Competency skills
are: learning and using accepted practices for mental, physical,
emotional, and social health; exploring and evaluating career and
job opportunities; acquiring subject matter skills and knowledge
in science or art; and developing and practicing responsible skills
related to the environment. Examples of coping skills are: acquiring
a positive self-concept; learning to respect and get along with
people; and developing productive use of leisure time. Contributory
skills include those where youths: learn and practice leadership
skills and fulfill leadership roles; participate in community affairs;
and develop as individuals and leaders in the 4-H program. Let's
look at the major ways 4-H is delivered in Washington State.
4-H Clubs/Groups 
Clubs or small groups of young people meeting with an adult volunteer---this
is one of the main ways in which 4-H Youth Development works. They
usually meet regularly for a special purpose, such as learning
about a specific subject, presenting a demonstration or taking
part in a field trip. The size of the group varies greatly, depending
on the need and available volunteer adult and teen leaders. Groups
may meet weekly, monthly, or on a schedule agreed upon by members,
parents, and leaders. Most counties have both community and project
groups. Community groups usually are made up of several project
groups. Meetings include an educational program, business meeting
and time for recreation. Demonstrations, guest speakers, special
tours or "learn-by-doing" activities can be the educational
part. Project groups focus on specific subjects--gardening, aerospace,
food and fitness, outdoor discovery, and teen leadership are examples.
In addition, members may plan and carry out community service activities
and entertaining events for themselves and their families.
Special Interest 4-H/Day Camps
Special interest 4-H groups learn about a specific subject for a
designated period of time. These groups may be short- or long-term,
but their leaders are usually enrolled on a yearly basis. Counties'
ideas about what special interest 4-H is vary. Most day camps are
special interest, i.e., horse camp, health camp, or sewing camp.
In urban areas, special interest groups may be formed in low-income
housing units through grants. An example of a special interest project
in a rural county is teaching cooking skills and nutrition to non-English-speaking
youths while their parents attend English as a Second Language classes.
4-H programs presented to other youth groups, such as Scouts and
Campfire, are considered special interest 4-H. Horseback riding
programs for disabled riders, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education
Program (EFNEP), S.E.R.I.E.S., and 4-H Challenge are other examples.
4-H Challenge
encompasses a variety of educational activities. Youths develop
a sense of inner responsibility and trust in others by learning
goal setting, problem solving, and communication skills. Activities
of bicycling, cross-country skiing, and "ropes"
courses enhance these skills. The portable Challenge unit (Ropes-in-a-Box),
which is available in many counties, can be set up in a playground
or a classroom setting. Adult Challenge leaders are certified in
experiential education techniques and closely monitor safety and
appropriate stress levels during group activities.
4-H Challenge activities present a group of young people with a
physical challenge which is impossible to solve alone. The youths
are challenged to develop a group plan to solve the problem. This
plan is shared with the group leader. Then the group tests their
plan to achieve the goal and master the physical challenge. For
example, a group of hikers will decide how they will ascend a 3000-foot
summit. Or a group on the ropes course may be challenged to get
each member over a 12-foot wall. After the physical challenge is
completed, the group analyzes the learning process they went through
and transfers these ideas to personal situations. For example, bicyclists,
learning the value of drafting for one another, can transfer this
learning process to a family problem that seemed unsolvable before.
Overnight or Resident Camps
Many counties or regions conduct resident camps where youths learn
such important life skills as problem solving, decision making,
communication, and cooperation while experiencing a variety of activities.
Camps may have a single focus such as food and nutrition, horse,
or science, or offer a more general program. Teens or adults serve
as counselors with a paid or volunteer camp director. School Enrichment
Programs
These innovative, educational programs utilize volunteers, teachers,
and/or Extension personnel to share their interests and knowledge
with children in their classrooms. School enrichment programs use
4-H materials to enhance existing school curricula. Examples are:
urban gardening, Ag in the Classroom, S.E.R.I.E.S., and Talking
with TJ.
School enrichment programs are short-term---or a series of sessions---and
participants usually don't hold meetings or elect officers. A topic
could be experienced in a one- or two-day workshop or integrated
into the normal class routine for a week, a grading period, a semester,
or however the instructor wishes. Students may be encouraged to
display or demonstrate their projects at fairs or community events.
4-H school
enrichment provides a way to teach life skills to a broad audience.
Programs can be adapted to fit the individual needs of the students
and schools. The 4-H "learn by doing"
approach is a natural companion to modern educational methods.
Contact your local county Extension office for more information regarding the specific
curricula available for use in the classroom.
School-Age Care and 4-H
School-age care (SAC) is the care of school-age children (generally
ages 5-12) during times when there is no school. This may include
before and after school on school days, school holidays, teacher
conference days and summer vacations. School-age care programs have
activities, environments, and equipment appropriate for the ages
and development of the children. These programs may be conducted
solely for school-age children or as part of a day care program
that enrolls other age groups. The programs may be located in schools,
churches, private buildings, or family homes. They may be profit
or nonprofit businesses.
WSU Extension
4-H can be involved with SAC in several ways. The three most
common methods include:
4-H Curricula. 4-H has provided appropriate curricula
for school-age youths for over 80 years. This includes project materials,
activities and games in at least 60 specific subject matter areas,
from nutrition to plant sciences to natural resources.
Training. The core of each quality school-age program
is its well-trained staff. WSU Extension 4-H can provide
training on the developmental stages of school- age children, SAC
program planning, appropriate group management techniques, food
and nutrition, leadership skills and sound business management
techniques.
Volunteers. In some counties WSU Extension
provides volunteers who can present programs on such subjects as
bread baking, gardening, games, clothing and textiles, and self-care.
School-age care providers should check with their local county faculty
or 4-H program assistant for the services their local county can
provide. Each county is unique and has specific policies for providing
curricula.
Other
Parents involved in home schooling their children are discovering
4-H curricula as a resource. Sometimes home schooled children participate
in 4-H activities and events.
In other instances parents and their children work as a group.
Some of these programs are named Independent 4-H, Lone Stars, or
Family 4-H. 4-H
is flexible, so your county may be offering 4-H in additional
creative ways. Visit your Extension office and learn about
ways to do 4-H where you live. |
