Clubs are so vital because they are the ultimate in experiential learning for young people, giving them the leadership and power to make their own decisions and watch how those decisions effect their life and the lives of others!

---

Family Participation

• Being a 4-H Parent

  There are lots of opportunities for adult involvement in leadership and programming at the club and county level.

  Parents should:

  • Guide and support work without doing it the work – “Learning by Doing”
  • Encourage follow-through and completion – life skills of self-responsibility, self-motivation and self-discipline
  • Give praise, encouragement and honest constructive feedback – developing resiliency
  • Aide in selecting, financing and managing project work
  • Assist in gathering tools, supplies and resources
• Purpose for 4-H Activities and Events Activities and Events are an Extension of Project Work

  Most activities and events provide an opportunity to share the knowledge and skills being learned through an individual’s project work.  Project work that has taken place over an extended period of time.

  Educational Purpose

  The objective of any 4-H activity or event is education which encourages life skill development.

  “Learn by Doing”

  An activity or event provides an opportunity to learn by doing at many levels…

  • As an individual, the member is learning by doing through decision making, preparation and self-responsibility.
    •At the local club level members learn by doing in planning, preparing and doing a project/service.
    •At the county level members may serve in a leadership role and assist with the actual planning and implementation of the activity or event. 
• A 4-H Club is…

  A group of members who learn leadership and cooperation through fun and educational programs. The 4-H club is an extended family.

  The club require family support and involvement.  Families help with refreshment, serve on committee, help with activities, stay informed, support their child as well as other club members, etc.

   

• Enrollment

  New members – ask if family (youth or adult) were enrolled in 4-H in another county or state.  The family profile will be transferred to the new count.  This keeps the enrollment history of the child and volunteer.On September 1 each year all enrollment goes inactive.  It is the start of a new program year.Parents who want to be a certified 4-H Volunteer will complete the application and enrollment in 4HOnline.

   

  Project Enrollment – youth should be strongly encouraged to enroll in no more than 5 project areas.  The five things they want to spend quality time conducting project work.  As a club, use the enrollment card data to determine what project groups and project leaders are needed to meet the needs and interests of the youth in your club.

• Parent’s Role in 4-Project Work
  • Guide and support work without doing it the work
  • Encourage follow-through and completion
  • Give praise and encouragement
  • Aide in selecting, financing and managing
  • Assist in gathering tools and supplies
• 4-H Clubs
  • Meet regularly
  • Fun and enjoyable for members and families
  • Have an educational emphasis
  • Are run by youth officers, supervised and instructed by a caring adult
  • Provide opportunity for developing communication skills
  • Provide recognition and peer support
• Selecting a 4-H Project

  Interests, needs and capabilities of the member
  •Opportunity for sufficient challenge and growth
  •Family situation
  •Availability of adequate financing
  •Availability of equipment and space
  •Availability of leadership for the project

• Guiding Project Work needs…

  •Project Leaders
  •Project Groups
  •Curriculum
  •Goal Setting
  •Journaling/record keeping

Risk Management

American Income Life Insurance -insurance for 4-H events, activities, clubs and members.

OK Group Activities Accident Policy

 

Club Management Tools and Resources

By-laws - Enable members to determine what rules they can all agree with and abide by, and yet allow the members to make changes when the organization grows and changes. These rules ensure stability, continuity and structure especially during times of rapid growth or when there are not many "old" members to tell the new members what to do.

• Leadership - Developing leadership skills in the local club occurs through participation, committees, meetings, officers, service learning and more.
• Citizenship - Developing community servants through Citizenship in the local club - focus on developing service learning programs.