Florida 4-H Program Handbook

SECTION 1: Overview

What Is 4-H?

4-H is More than you ever Imagined!

4-H is the nonformal educational youth development program of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) and the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. It combines the cooperative efforts of youth, volunteer leaders, the University of Florida, Florida A& M University, and local and federal governments. The

4-H program is the only nationwide youth education effort that is an extension of a university system and it is the largest youth-serving organization in the country.

The purpose of 4-H is to help youth become productive members of society. By acquiring life skills, youth learn about practical problems they will face in life. Subject matter curricula help youth understand research-based educational topics and learn how to think about and solve problems. In the broadest sense, 4-H is a human development program designed to foster a sense of confidence, a feeling of accomplishment, and a heightened level of competence.

What Makes 4-H Possible?

In Florida, 4-H is part of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service based at the land-grant universities. 4-H is tax supported. The combined efforts of the county, state and federal governments support 4-H to provide practical, educationally-researched based programs for everyday living and development of life skills among youth. Programs and activities are conducted through a partnership of local community volunteers and professional staff.

4-H Reaches Around the World....

Although 4-H is flexible and should be adapted to the needs and interests of individuals and the local situation, it is also a national program. All 50 states, U.S. Territories and more than 80 countries throughout the world are actively involved in 4-H or 4-H-type organizations. When youth become involved in 4-H, they have a connection with their counterparts in all 3,150 counties across the nation.

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4-H in Florida

The Extension youth development education program of the Cooperative Extension Service. It is important that 4-H agents understand the mission of the organization and that they relate it to the 4-H program and activities in their county. Keeping focused on the mission will help decide whether a program or activity fits into the goals and objectives of the county 4-H program. The vision, mission, and values statements listed to the side were developed at the 4-H Administrative Conference in November 1998.

 

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How Does 4-H Reach Youth?

A young person may participate in the 4-H program through one or more of the types of membership or "delivery methods" provided at the county level. The methods of reaching youth are:

• Organized 4-H Clubs
• School Enrichment Programs
• Special Interest Programs/Day Camps
• After-School Programs
• Residential 4-H Camps
• Individual/Home Study

What Experiences Does 4-H Provide for Youth?

4-H helps youth learn to live and make a living through individual and group experiences.

Project Experiences ... working individually or in groups youth select topics of interest in which they study, learn and do things.

At the Club/Community Level...youth select or "enroll" in a desired project receiving supporting curriculum materials...such as project and record books to complete.

At the County, District, State or National Levels... Special Interest workshops and clinics, speciality camps, and other educational events are conducted to meet youth interests by enhancing and expanding project learning experiences.  

Group Experiences... 4-H'ers participate in groups through club meetings, classrooms groups, project group meetings, or organized events, which provide an environment to learn leadership and group social skills.

At the Club/Community Level...club meetings provide the youth in 4-H the opportunity to exercise and practice leadership and group skills.

At the County, District, State and National Levels...4-H Youth Leadership Councils offer an extended way for youth to learn and practice leadership in a democratic system.

4-H Events/Activities...specialized 4-H events are designed and conducted to support the 4-Her at the local, county, district, state, and national levels. These may be competitive or noncompetitive in nature.

At the Club/Community Level...local clubs often plan and conduct their own events. Such activities may include family/club picnics, fund-raising events, or community service activities.

At the County, District, State and National levels...County or State faculty also plan and conduct many specialized events to enhance and support local 4-Hers.  Handbook Section 8: Events and Activities details these many 4-H opportunities.

4-H Awards and Recognition Opportunities...4-H is not complete without supporting the growth and development of youth through recognizing and awarding their achievements and accomplishments.

A system of recognition is incorporated into the program at the club, county, state and national levels. The Florida 4-H Awards and Recognition Handbook provides these details.

What Are the Advantages of Being in 4-H?

4-H offers flexible programming to meet youth needs by emphasizing skill building processes and effective outcomes through quality curriculum that promotes positive values, social responsibility, and lifelong learning. Young people in 4-H have an opportunity to:

• develop as an individual;
• learn lifelong skills related to each project;
• make new friends through 4-H meetings, events, and activities;
• work with adult volunteer leaders;
• develop pride as they learn by doing;
• develop leadership skills, including the ability to speak before a group;
• and explore projects that can lead to future careers.

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Guiding Principles of 4-H

4-H is:

• Based in the community with needs determined locally
• Operated by volunteers under the guidance of Extension professionals and staff.
• Coordinated and managed by the professional staff of the University.
• Supported by the land-grant university research base to meet the need of local Florida citizens.

Community-based

Even though it is a state and national program, 4-H remains based in the community. Extension agents are charged with understanding the needs of local residents and implementing programs to meet those needs. In addition to needs gathered at the community level, 4-H uses the university knowledge base and Cooperative Extension System network as a means of facilitating the design, development, and delivery of experiential youth education programs.

• 4-H emphasizes "learning by doing" subject-matter projects and activities, networking the resources of Extension, land-grant universities, other universities, and youth-serving agencies.
• 4-H structures the learning environment using knowledge from the social and behavioral sciences and the humanities to promote the acquisition of life skills.

• The mix of subject matter and educational methods in the presence of a democratic environment provides the vehicle for optimal youth development to occur.

Volunteers

Volunteers are key to the successful delivery of 4-H programs to youth. A necessary companion of the youth development goal is the development of volunteers as individuals and leaders in the 4-H program.

• Volunteers structure the group learning experiences for youth.

• Volunteers serve in a variety of capacities in support of 4-H members, other volunteers, and the 4-H program in general.

• Extension professionals teach volunteers to use subject matter, educational methods, and the democratic process to achieve human development objectives.

Professional staff

Professional staff work with youth and adult volunteers to develop programs based on the specific needs of each county. There are a variety of staffing patterns in county Extension offices. Each Extension agent has some responsibility for youth work. The role of the 4-H agent is to help people do the following:

Organizing: 

• become aware of 4-H
• examine ways they can benefit from 4-H
• know the ways of participating in 4-H
• examine ways of working with youth that contribute to positive development
• see ways of using 4-H as a positive influence in youth development
• organize 4-H units through volunteers
• acquire access to resources

Teaching:

• plan, organize, conduct, and evaluate 4-H programs
• teach youth, parents, and other adults

Managing:

• manage program resources, including (1) human-a volunteer system, (2) financial, and (3) material-educational resources, equipment and facilities.

The national professional Extension youth association is the National Association of Extension of 4-H Agent (NAE4-HA). It promotes, strengthens and advocates the 4-H youth development profession.  Click here for the NAE4-HA website.  In Florida, click on FAE4-HA on the right side bar.

 

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