4-H Youth Development
Fall 2011 Newsletter4-H Camp Application July 19-23, 2010
4-H Newsletter Winter 2009
What is a 4-H Club?
A 4-H Club is an organized group of youngsters (ages 9-19) with elected officers and a planned program that is conducted throughout the year or the majority of the year. Clubs are lead by volunteer leaders and may focus on one or more project areas. Club officers conduct monthly organizational meetings. Members also participate in a variety of learning experiences in their organizational meeting as well as within their project areas. Project meetings may be held as often as deemed necessary, but at least once a month.
Club officers, made up of youth members, are elected each year and serve in the various leadership positions at each meeting. The officers conduct the meeting using parliamentary procedures.
4-H clubs may meet as neighborhood clubs, as after school clubs, or as within school clubs. The "key" is that all clubs should have officers, be managed by volunteers, meet over a sustained period of time, and are focused on positive youth development.
The club is a commitment of time and effort made by the member and family. Youth must adhere to the code of conduct, attend meetings, participate in educational activities, follow 4-H policy guidelines, and assume leadership responsibilities.
Like all 4-H programming, the number and type of clubs is determined by the number of willing volunteers.
When do I join?
The 4-H New Year begins on 1 October. Although you can join anytime during the year, Fall is when the volunteer led 4-H clubs recruit new members.
What kind of clubs are in Hanover?
In Hanover County the horse clubs are the most popular project area. Some youth own horses but most lease; several clubs are at a barn while others are at different stables; some members ride hunters, others like the speed of gymkana or precision of dressage. But all the members like spending time with horses, training, grooming and learning about them, and hanging out with people that like horses, too. As becoming a good horseman or woman is essential to the 4-H horse project, members also study hippology, compete in horse judging and attend camps and clinics in addition to horse shows. The horse is a tool to learn life skills such as time management, respect, communication, meeting deadlines, record keeping and assuming personal responsibility.
Volunteers have also stepped forward to lead two community clubs where members do a variety of activities especially communication arts. In addition the livestock club helps members raise and show animals such as chickens, goats and beef.
Regardless of the area of interest, project work is about youth development. While focused on a specific area, members learn life skills such independent learning, citizenship, responsibility, decision making, problem solving, communications and giving back to others through community service. The competition side of 4-H allows members to win with humility and lose with grace. As long as they do their best and have fun, every 4-H member is a blue ribbon member.
For information on 4-H clubs contact the Extension Office-752-4310.