Welcome to the World of
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What is 4-H?
Key ideas
- What is 4-H?
- How does the 4-H program work?
- Whats more important--the 4-H project or the 4-H boy or girl?
- What is the 4-H leader's job?
Welcome! You've volunteered and have been selected to be a new 4-H leader! Congratulations! You're starting an interesting, challenging, and rewarding experience. Because we know you have lots of questions about this new venture, we believe you'll find the following information helpful.
This is the first of a four-part series, Welcome to the World of 4-H--Basics for New Leaders. The other three parts are: Starting a 4-H Club or Group (4-H #2), Planning and Conducting 4-H Club Meetings (4-H #3), and Leadership and Teaching Techniques (4-H #4).
As you review this material, make note of your ideas and questions. Highlight information you find especially useful.
What Is 4-H?
4-H is an experiential youth education program for boys and girls in kindergarten through 12th grade. For youth in grades K-3 (4-H Primaries), the program is designed to meet the developmental characteristics of young children. It emphasizes cooperative learning and excludes competitive events. Youth in grades 4-12 usually select projects or activities from the large number available to them, and may choose to enter fairs or other competition.
In Washington, 4-H is a part of Washington State University Cooperative Extension. Each county has an Extension office which administers the 4-H program. At the national level, 4-H is a unit of the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the federal partner of the state land-grant university system. 4-H is the youth development program of the land-grant universities Cooperative Extension system. This relationship is described in more detail on the World Wide Web at http://www.4h-usa.org, or in the publication A Tax-Exempt Status of 4-H Organizations Authorized to Use the 4-H Name and Emblem that is available in county Extension offices.
Volunteer adults who serve as 4-H leaders are considered volunteer faculty members of Washington State University. As a volunteer, you have access to research and information from the university by contacting personnel in your county Extension office.
A good description of the 4-H program in Washington is given in the publication EM4487, Welcome To 4-H. If you would like a copy of this or other references listed, they are available at county Extension offices.
How does the 4-H program work?
It's often said, "It is better to build a child than to mend an adult." This, in a nutshell, is the main objective of the 4-H program.
In 4-H, volunteer leaders encourage youth to gain knowledge and learn practical life skills, and to apply both in their project area. Members learn to work together as a team and develop a sense of fair play. 4-H members learn decision-making skills through project work, judging contests, and other 4-H activities.
As 4-H members mature, they have opportunities to learn and practice leadership skills within their own club, at county activities, and during state events. They also begin to develop an appreciation and understanding of their community through individual or club service projects.
Members improve their communication skills through working together and interaction in the club, presentations, and 4-H record keeping. They also develop positive attitudes about themselves and others, learn basic health and safety practices, have educational and vocational experiences, and learn how to set and achieve realistic goals for themselves through individual time management.
All of this doesn't happen at once, but develops gradually as members continue their involvement in 4-H under the guidance of their leader.
How is the 4-H program delivered?
The structure of an individual 4-H club or group may take on one of several forms. These include:
- Community or project clubs: 4-H curriculum is taught to youth organized into groups (clubs) that function for several months or throughout the year. This method is the traditional 4-H delivery method.
- School enrichment: 4-H curriculum is utilized in the classroom during regular school hours. The classroom teacher or another resource person teaches the subject matter.
- Short-term/special interest: 4-H curriculum generally is taught over a specified amount of time (e.g., 1 week, 6 weeks, 2 months) and outside of regular school hours. After-school programs, community school programs, special interest group programs, cooperative programs with other agencies and organizations, and school-age child care programs are examples of this delivery method.
Whats more important the 4-H project or the 4-H boy and girl?
The 4-H member, of course! 4-H is a people program. The objective is to develop boys and girls. Projects are tools for teaching youngsters by engaging their interest. The ultimate goal is for the 4-H member to know more and be able to do more at the end of the year. A commonly stated example of the 4-H philosophy is, "A blue ribbon 4-H'er with a red ribbon project is more desirable than a red ribbon 4-H'er with a blue ribbon project."
What is the 4-H leader's job?
To help 4-H members learn specific project skills. 4-H members have fun with projects while learning by doing. Youth remember better if they actually experience something and have an opportunity for hands-on learning.
Learning takes place within the learner it is not something done to the learner. We encourage skills that will be useful to the young person now and in the future. We help each member develop good habits, experiment with new ideas, and practice problem-solving skills. By doing this, we help them become self-directed, productive, contributing members of society.
To teach 4-H members how to think, not what to think. We help develop creative thinking in young people by giving them a chance to make decisions on their own. They'll learn from their own choices.
To recognize and encourage each 4-H member so they feel noticed and important. The most significant recognition that can be given to members is sincere praise, attention, or compliments letting them know they are important and what they have done is worthwhile.
This is what 4-H is all about the personal development of the boy and girl. Welcome to the world of 4-H!
Action steps
- Talk with other adults who might take on club leader roles.
- Learn more about how clubs in your area are structured.
- Attend scheduled leader training(s).
- Gather needed 4-H reference materials.
Reference Materials
(Copies are available at your county Extension office.)
EM4865 Washington 4-H Opportunities for Youth Development
EM4487 Welcome to 4-H
C0817 What is 4-H?
PNW 003-VT Welcome to the World of 4-H: Basics for New Leaders(video)
Contacting Your County Extension Office
http://4h.wsu.edu/staffdir/counties.html
This is part one of a six-part series. This series is a cooperative project between Oregon State University, Washington State University, and the University of Idaho.
Revised by Mary Lee Wood, Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development, University of Idaho, based on original material prepared by Mary Alice Dodd, 4-H Volunteer Leader, Linn County; Lyla Houglum, former Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development; and Michelle Robinson, former Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, Oregon State University. Original development of this material was funded by R.J.R. Nabisco, Inc. through the National 4-H Council Salute to Excellence Program.
This publication may be photocopied or reprinted in its entirety for noncommercial purposes.
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