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 The 4-H Youth Development Program is in every county in California. You will recognize 4-H by its green clover. What you may not know is that 4-H is for everybody, for all young people in California, whether they're in small towns, big cities, or anything in between. Today, 4-H is 130,000 young people learning, achieving and giving back to their communities, supported by 20,000 caring and enthusiastic adult volunteers.
"4-H has helped me grow tremendously as a person. I went from being a shy, timid young girl to an outgoing, determined young woman. My favorite part about 4-H is building relationships with not only my peers, but also with youth a lot younger than me and adults much older than me." –Callie Froese, age 16, Shasta County 4-H is a place where young people ages 5-19 are given many opportunities to build confidence, learn responsibility, and develop skills that will last them a lifetime. It's a place where youth make friends and share interests, ranging from building robots to raising rabbits, from designing web pages to landscape design. It's a place where youth work together to make a positive difference in their community, and adult volunteers make a powerful difference in the lives of young people. Get involved in the 4-H community and make a lasting difference!
How do youth participate in 4-H?4-H promotes hands-on learning and is based on parent and volunteer participation. 4-H welcomes all youth (and adult volunteers) from all backgrounds in all locales (rural and urban). It features many different programs, including after-school programs, horse groups, camping, and 4-H Clubs. The common theme is youth learning and growing in citizenship, leadership and life skills. "I like how 4-H is kid oriented--they run the meetings and are in charge. 4-H promotes community service and public speaking, all life skills they can use." –Laurinda Corron, Mother of four Butte Co. 4-H members Building Important RelationshipsWith a youth to adult volunteer ratio of 6:1, young people have the opportunity to develop a strong, positive relationship with a caring adult. Research suggests that this may be one of the most important factors for positive youth development. 4-H volunteer leaders are essential partners in creating a positive environment by focusing on the strengths of youth and providing positive ways for youth to meet their basic needs. 4-H enables all youth to reach their fullest potential through:
different counties. 4-H helps you with your public speaking skills. We get to meet new people and to help out in the community. Without 4-H I wouldn't have much else to do." –Dorinda Walker, 9th grade, Tehama County The 4-H Environment: Essential Elements of Youth DevelopmentCaring Relationship (Belonging)All youth need a caring, supportive relationship in their lives. Volunteer Leaders and club members provide this fellowship by showing interest in, actively listening to, and fostering the gifts of 4-H youth. The multiple interactions of parents and adults working with 4-Hers in 4-H clubs is unique and provides an opportunity for long-term youth development seldom found in other educational modes. Constructive Learning Experiences (Mastery)Youth rely on the joy they receive from interests, hobbies and group participation to balance disappointments in other parts of their lives. 4-H offers opportunities to take on new challenges and learn new skills. 4-H youth develop mastery through the Experiential Learning Process by experiencing, sharing what happened, processing what was important, generalizing the experience to the real world and applying what was learned to other situations. The presence of self-confidence and positive self-esteem are today considered to be two of the most important indicators of personal wellness and success in an individual. Through the support and encouragement of caring club parents and leaders, youth grow taller in their feelings of self-worth. A sense of accomplishment is achieved from finishing a project and participating in a positive evaluation experience. Leadership Opportunities (Independence)Creating opportunities for youth to develop skills and confidence for leadership and self-discipline is a cornerstone of 4-H. 4-H helps young people recognizes the connection between independence and responsibility. Independence does mean greater power and influence, but it is linked with responsibility for decisions made and actions taken. Today's society is busy, with worthwhile opportunities for youth in greater abundance than ever before. Being involved in a successful 4-H club means that members learn how to set priorities in developing their club program and manage the time they have available for their club wisely. Service to Communities (Generosity)The 4-H Pledge focuses on the importance of larger service and recognizing a responsibility for the welfare of others. 4-H helps youth focus on developing concern for others and taking action to demonstrate that concern. Service forges bonds between youth and the community, and doing something valued by others raises feelings of self-worth and competence. 4-H activities can include:
To join, contact your local 4H organization:Butte County Tehama County Shasta County Siskiyou County ### Author Nick Bertagna is from a four-generation farming family in Butte County. He started in 4-H at age 10. Besides farming with his son, he is the Butte County 4-H Youth Development Program Representative. Newer:
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November 2008
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